Backgroud: Parwati Devi Kanu, age- 35 yrs, resident of Rajpur Municipality-2, Bhutahi tole. She is single women living with her 2 Son (aged 15 years and 9 years),1 daughter (aged 12 years) and mother-in-law (aged 74 years) in a small hut. Three years ago, her husband passed away due to stomach problem. They used to live in Kathmandu with her whole family and sell Chatpate and Panipari at roadside. They were living happily there by sell the chatpate and Pani Puri. At the meantime, her husband diagnosed with the gastric problem which was at last stage. They took 10 lakh loan from the bank and 5 lakh loan from their family friend for his treatment. They tried everything but nothing works, and his husband start to lose weight and for 6 month he was completely bed rest and then he died. After that we carry on his business and spend their life in Kathmandu. They work hard and repay all the loans of the bank from the business they operate in Kathmandu.
One and half years ago, her family was compelled to return home by the striction made by the mayor of Kathmandu that the street vendor were not allowed to sell on road. They faced lots of difficulties as the sources of income were forcefully destroyed by the local police if they sold on the road. After they don’t have any choice and return to their homeland. Single women with 3 children and a old mother in law and without any sources of income with 5 lakh loan on their head faced lot of difficulties. She takes 1 more lakh loan to establish a life here. They don’t have food and don’t have any sources of income. Then she starts a small business of chana chat pate by taking 5000 loans as she has skills. She made all the items in home and sell them by visiting house to house by keeping the item on head in chhaita (wood make bata like structure). With that income they barely survived.
Intervention: At the same time, she meets a staff of the project and got selected to be a member in the Jagadamba self-help group. She is an active member of the self-help group and received SIYB Training, Financial Literacy Training, orientation on leadership development, Advocacy and Gender. With this training she acquired knowledge about investment and how profit was calculated. She also knows about the importance of saving.
After: The project helps me to sustain my livelihood by supporting food items worth 6000 which is enough for 2 months. I received 2 sacks of rice and oil. Not only this, but my daughter was also supported with educational support and enrolled in school in 7 class. All my children were getting formal education in school. As per her mother-in-law, her behavior seems change towards her children after participating in Positive parenting session. She didn’t beat her children without reason. She tries to be a friend to her daughter and listen to her daughter with patience.
She got Thela with Chatpate support in august for scaling up for small business. She is now making good profit from it. “I have been earning NPR1500 hundred on daily basis and made 800 profits. My son helps me to purchase goods from India for the business purpose and my daughter and mother-in-law help me in households’ chores. During festive seasons or occasions, in local market fairs, my earnings increases to 5000 on daily basis and it continues for 2 to 3 days. As of now I have started saving practice of NPR 100 on daily basis on cooperative. Along with now, I am well aware about the gender violence which I have faced in my early days and now the project has also help me to get well aware about the impacts of child marriages. Now I will get my children’s to continue their education. At the end I am very thankful to the support I got from RDC Nepal, which has supported me to establish a regular income from which I can keep my family stable.”
