Keonjhar: The women of their age usually spend time with their grandchildren or lead lonely lives in the confines of four walls, but many elderly women of the Bhuyan tribe at Thakuradihi under Bansapal block in this district have not retired from the struggles of their lives.
Age has not deterred them from making their own living. Without the help of others, the women have become self-sufficient enough to keep their pots boiling and set an example for others. Such women can be seen in forests collecting sal leaves.
They make plates out of these leaves and sell them in locals markets. Though their daily earning from plate sales is not enough to make a decent living, they never crib about their plight. Despite all odds from age and livelihood, the tribal women seem to be joyous.
The provision of monthly pension and ration cards has not led to complacency in the women. “We want to earn and try to survive by ourselves,” they said with pride.
The Bhuyan women are as hard working as their male counterparts.
Among these elderly women are Phulamani Nayak, Guri Dehury, Radhi Parihal and Mahuli Parihal. Radhi and Mahuli are relatives who live separately, but work together.
Braving the blazing heat, they go out into nearby forests and collect sal leaves for two to three days. Then, they sell leaf plates in the market.
“We earn Rs 50 to Rs 100 per day while Rs 20 is spent on transport fare to the market. We purchase rations with whatever is left,” said Phulamani.
Radhi has married off two daughters. “Me and my husband manage to keep our pot boiling,” she added.
Guri has a son but he stays at his in-laws’ house with his wife. “Now, my husband and I live by ourselves,” she added.
Phulamani says, “My two daughters were married off. Our sons were married but they have to look after their own families. We earn for our own living.”
The son and daughter-in-law of Mahuli look after her.
The narratives of these elderly women trying to live by themselves are a pointer to the inefficacy of many government schemes meant for their development.
Many of them observed that they had managed to live their lives amid forests and wild animals, but are worried about out the next generations.
It is alleged that the leaf traders rake in the moolah while tribals fail to get the right price for their hard work.
