Pushpa Pal, a shepherd’s daughter, looks after sheep. , You are a shepherd’s daughter, keeping sheep: people who smile; Told the groom that he will educate his brother and sister even after marriage, if he agrees then say ‘yes’ Achi-News

I, Pushpa Pal, live in Kutiyawa village, Akbarpur, Ambedkarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. I was born here and grew up here.

I am the first girl in the village to study MA. When she was in high school, she went from her village to Lucknow to participate in a program. At that time not a single girl from the village had even gone to Lucknow.

I am the first girl in my village who learned to ride a scooter.

About 10 years ago, I was a girl who spoke very little, was hesitant to talk to anyone, and nervous. Talking to men was nothing less than a problem for me, my hands and legs used to tremble.

But I changed myself. Today I am involved in women’s rights, their education, their health and making them skilled.

Helped make 10,000 women self-reliant in 10 years. Making more than 400 women in 50 Panchayats aware of their rights and raising their voice for women’s rights.

She is a shepherd’s daughter, raising sheep, everything else is drama.

I belong to the shepherd caste. Sheep were raised at home. Papa used to say, once upon a time, one would get only Rs 100 for selling a sheep. It was difficult to run a household with this money.

So called upper caste people considered us inferior. The father suffered this discrimination. Despite this he studied. He would cross the river 20 km away and go to study. There was not enough money to buy a bicycle.

Despite all the difficulties, he studied law from Allahabad University. If he wanted, he could have made his career in Allahabad itself but for the sake of the progress of the village, he chose not to go to the city.

Father used to say that education can change the situation. He came to the village and started teaching children.

He started Jan Shikshan Kendra. When he died suddenly of a heart attack in 2013, I took over this centre. I teach girls as a community educator. Then many people would say that she is a shepherd’s daughter, take care of sheep.

Ridiculing that girls’ education is all drama.

Pushpa makes women aware of their rights.

Women come to show themselves wearing red lipstick

There are many kinds of things going on in the village. When women were being informed of their rights and receiving training, many people used to say that women were called to perform dances. These women come to show off their lipstick and eat chaat and samosa.

Often people would say insulting words that the father was gone and that the family members were eating the daughter’s earnings. People in the neighborhood asked the mother why she does not marry her daughter. Why is she staying at her parents’ home?

My answer to those who have sons is that they keep their parents hungry but I am the girl who takes care of my parents and my family.

Papa said, you will study where all the children will study.

Papa opened a school up to class 5 with the help of the CRY organization in the village itself. No fees were charged at the school. All the children studied there. I also studied in the same school until class five.

After this I thought of going to Akbarpur to study. I told my father that I want to study in middle school in Akbarpur.

Then he asked if the other children of the village are also so capable like you that they would go to Akbarpur to study? If not, then you will also study in the village like them.

I studied till the eighth standard in the middle school of the same panchayat. Papa always motivated me for further studies. After doing BA, I did MA and B.Ed and I also did MSW to work in the social sector.

I will take care of my mother’s family even after marriage, let me know if you agree

For me, the relationship came from the boys’ side. I clearly told the boy that I am the eldest daughter of the house, not the father. I stand on my own feet and earn for my family.

I have brothers and sisters and it is my responsibility to educate them. Even after marriage, I will take care of my maternal family, if you agree then say ‘yes’. The boy agreed and then I got married.

Pushpa has received the Rani Lakshmi Bai Award and the Gaurav Girl Award.

What does a woman face after going to her in-laws house?

My husband has always supported me. So far he has been keeping the promises he made before marriage. Often when I am on a field visit or in a meeting, he does not call unnecessarily.

Although they sometimes ask, will you fulfill the responsibilities of your mother’s house for the rest of your life? Are there no other people in the in-laws’ house? Sometimes they want to say something but can’t say it.

By coming to my in-laws house, I have understood the existence of being a woman. Who is a good daughter-in-law, how should she live, how should she fulfill all the responsibilities.

Only by visiting her in-laws can one know how a woman maintains her patience and self-confidence.

A 70 year old woman also calls me sister

I am running the public education campaign started by my father. Every day I fight for women’s rights, livelihood and self-reliance. I make women aware.

The effect of this awareness is that the number of women in the police has now increased. When I meet girls, they call me didi.

A 70 year old woman also calls me sister.

Build 8 model villages for TB patients

My organization has done a lot of work for TV patients. Under Akshay Project, 8 model villages have been built for TB patients. 480 ‘Asha’ girls have been trained.

We received financial assistance from the Japanese Embassy to open a primary school for Dalit children in our village. To connect those women with education who have lost their studies for some reason.

More than 13,000 children were registered at the school. I was honored with ‘Bitiya Gauav Award’ and ‘Rani Lakshmi Bai Award’ for making women aware of domestic violence and empowering women.

Women break the shackles of social slavery

In my 10 years of struggle, I have seen how society has kept women in captivity.

Women are fighting for their rights and after hard work they are able to reach a certain level.

Despite this, the patriarchal society is so dominant that it does not accept women’s freedom, progress and success.

I am happy that many women, through my efforts, are breaking these shackles.