I have also facilitated women’s access to NREgS. It used to bother me that a
woman can work at home but is not allowed to work outside the house and
earn money. I faced resistance from the men in my village who often said,
“you do not work at home and now you want to convert our women too”. My
parents-in law also started taunting me saying that people were saying all kinds
of things about me. They too started talking about how I do not work inside
the house and roam about outside meaninglessly. Those who were standing
against me in the elections took this opportunity to instigate rumours about
me. My parents-in-law started prohibiting me from going out of the house.
Although in my heart I knew that I was merely fulfilling my responsibilities
as Panchayat Vice-President, I began to consider resigning from my post. My
husband came in to support me at this time. He said that he did not have
a problem with what I was doing, and that I had to learn to ignore people’s
comments. This is why I have continued to retain my post.
I spoke with my Panchayat Mandali and with SUTRA and they encouraged
me to go on. Even though I faced all these hardships, my self-confidence has
increased, as has my will to take decisions and my awareness on issues.