SOCIETY

A social worker from Kerala transforming women's life in Bihar

     Danapur (Bihar): Sudha Varghese, a woman from Kerala, who has made Shivala Musahari of Bihar's Danapur Disrict, her second home, has become a household name due to her social service for the upliftment of women in a marginalised Muhasar community here. Sudha, 58, who arrived here about two decades ago, took her time to study the social surroundings, which she found strange. She focussed her attention to uplift women of the Muhasar community branded as untouchables through training and education. "I found the Musahar community the most excluded community in Bihar. They were facing a lot of problems like untouchability. So, I decided to work for this community," said Sudha Varghese. But it was never an easy task for Sudha. But she didn't give up. Today, she runs a centre with the help of UNICEF (United Nation Children's Fund) here and continues her search for the girls from impoverished and marginalised families, especially among Musahars. Over hundred girls attend the training centre. Sudha Varghese has built a small house made of bricks and covered it by a thatched roof. To fight for the rights of women, facing abuse or discrimination here, Sudha has also studied law. Today, her counselling reaches out to those women who earlier couldn't avail any legal assistance due to social stigmas.

     The training centre run by Sudha has been successful in instilling confidence among local girls, which remained a dream for a long time for their families. Today, the parents of these girls are happy that their girls have a bright future. "When my daughter was here, she used to fetch firewood for cooking and wash utensils but there she is studying. She is trying to make her future by studying hard," said Chaurasia Devi, a parent. "While living here one lives in unhygienic conditions or going to get the woods or someone sends their daughter with pigs and someone sends them for farming. Education enhances one's knowledge. I feel good that education will take her towards a good life and future," added Mangru Manjhi, another local. The selfless service and social awareness created by Sudha Varghese has changed the whole lifestyle of this place as well as provided a new life to those girls who were earlier restricted to their kitchens and other domestic chores. In 2006, Sudha was conferred with the coveted Padma Shri Award for her social service at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Through her social work, Sudha has not just redefined women's empowerment but also proved how one can generate hope even at the grass root level of society.
-Feb 15, 2007    

Previous File               Current File