Resolute Kalahandi widow sets example for others Tuesday, 09 March 2021 | AJIT PANDA | BHAWANIPATNA

Basanti Gahir is one of the bold women of Kalahandi district, who has set an example for others by walking alone on a long twisted path.

Basanti is a widow leading her family of four children alone since the death of her husband in 2010. "One late evening I heard that he was lying bleeding on the road in the outskirts of our village.

I ran to the spot to rescued him. He said he had been wounded by an unidentified animal in the darkness. I treated him in different hospitals but he succumbed to his injuries exactly after three months of the attack," reveals Basanti and further narrates how she has struggled day in and day out to manage the family single-handedly.

 "Working as a wage worker for long three years, I was earning about 12 kg of paddy per day for agriculture labour and Rs 80 for working in construction sites at that time. It was very difficult to manage the family with that meager income. I wanted to provide education to my children," she adds.

Jaya Gahir, husband of Basanti, was running a shop in the village when he was alive. " In spite of the difficulty, I used to save some money from my daily earnings during those days, but that was not sufficient to restart the business. I got the strength from an organisation called Karrtabya in 2013, when they offered me support to put my girl child in the school," she further adds. Ashok Pattnaik, executive director of Karrtabya, says, "On my visit to the village one day I found Basanti returning to village holding a big load of mung plants on her head.

When we learnt about her struggle and her resolve to provide her children education we decided to support her financially." The Karrtabya provided monetary support of Rs 600 per month initially which was increased to Rs 1,000 later for education and upbringing of Basanti's third child, Binodini, for eight years. The organisation also provided an amount of Rs 10,000 to her to restart the shop, which has now grown to a shop worth Rs 1 lakh.

Basanti's elder son after his secondary education is now working as a driver. "I am trying to get him a heavy driving licence," she says. "My three other children are in schools. I want them to get higher education. I am proud that my children understand my feelings and cooperate with me in every respect," she tells.

"I see a great change in her in terms of awareness. She visits the Panchayat, Block and Labour offices alone to get her works done," says Pattnaik.

Basanti has helped 20 children of her village register in the District Labour Office, which would allow them to avail educational assistance and support to buy bi-cycle as well as to get assistance for purchase of working tools, safety equipment and marriage  when they are grown up. The path for Basanti may be full of roadblocks but the way she has handled her problems has set a good example for others to get strength and courage.