Page 145 - Real English 2024 Book 8

A BEACON LIGHT FOR THE POOR

others, Fathima’s achievement is significant in several ways. She
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had to struggle against oppressive societal equations, gender
discrimination, caste conflicts, and the strangleholds of customs
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and traditions.
Deprived of a formal education and burdened with household
work, she was at best what she could have been at that time –
a typical rural housewife whose rights were at the mercy of the

menfolk. Fathima was married at 14 and gave birth to seven
children, out of whom only three survived. The 74th Amendment
of the constitution passed by the Indian Parliament in 1992 reserved
one-third of seats in local governments for women. After the
election of 1995, Fathima found a new identity that transformed her
and the world around her. A miracle happened – a woman was at the

helm of a panchayat in a male-dominated society. Many among the
villagers, particularly the powerful feudal landlords, resisted her
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efforts to wrest control of the village administration. She says she
began asserting herself after attending a workshop held for the newly
elected heads of local bodies. The malicious verbal attacks and 12.
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sarcastic remarks made by some menfolk only hardened Fathima’s cruel and unfair
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resolve to march ahead with unflagging zeal. Thus was born a new the act of making unjust
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treatment of a group of
reformer with a mission in her life. people based on their
Like any other backward region, Kalva was without proper identity
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roads, adequate drinking water or irrigation facilities. Around having control over
600 families were steeped in poverty, and outside help was not something and preventing
it from being free
forthcoming. Their children grew up without the benefit of a relating to the system of
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15.
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proper education and had to migrate to cities looking for work. government that gives all
Fathima started her work in earnest with steely determination. the power to the land-
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She probed the reasons for the backwardness of the people and owners
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the region and decided to change the profile of both. The topmost government
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priority was the empowerment of women, and the guiding spirit was characterized by malice,
Shankaramma, the head of a voluntary women’s organization called 18. intended to do harm
‘Poddu’. Together they motivated the women to be more disciplined tireless
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with their daily wages and to save one rupee a day under a thrift enthusiasm for pursuing a
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cause
scheme. When their combined savings touched 200,000 rupees (here) available when
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within a year, the district administration and the United Nations needed
Development Programme representative Vijayabharathi stepped move to a new area
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in with sufficient grant and encouraged Fathima to undertake investigated
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productive programmes. saving money
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