The mothers of Pokhara have proved that mothers can actively play an influential and effective role in society. The ‘credit’ or respect that mothers command in society has become a legend of sorts in Pokhara. Town dwellers here may not abide by the orders or decisions of ward chairmen or members in many a situation, but they accept the verdict of mothers’ groups without any complaint. It may be hard to believe, but even people’s representatives here do not deny this phenomenon.
In Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City alone, there are over five dozen mothers’ groups distributed among its toles [the smallest unit of a local body]. It would not be wrong to say that mothers’ groups have become an indispensable part of ordinary life in Pokhara. If one goes to any part of the city and asks any inhabitant-child, elderly person or youth-about the whereabouts of the members of the mothers’ group, chances are that the respondent’s family members belong to the mothers’ group in question or the respondent herself is a member. Such groups exist in every tole. Each group has, on an average, 60 members.
Says Gauri Shahi, president of the Bhairabh Tole Mothers’ Groups, one of the oldest of its kind: “We established the group nine years ago. Back then there were only two or three such groups. Inspired by our good work, others started to form such groups in their toles. If a group in a tole discusses any new issue, others are enthusiastic about doing the same thing. At times we also conduct programs jointly.”
Many works in villages are done through mothers’ groups. If one seeks the help of the police or administration for even a small problem, it takes months to get it solved. But if the majority finds the opinion of a mothers’ group satisfactory, decisions
are taken instantly. The cost is negligible and justice prompt. In this way, these mothers’ groups have been able to win the hearts of many villagers.
According to Nepal’s Citizenship Act, people cannot get citizenship certificates without the recommendation and approval of their father. Says Shubhadra Koirala, president of the Woman Jagriti Mothers’ Group: “Girls who have grown in front of our eyes get married and pregnant and then the husband absconds. Some husbands even disown their wives. What is the fault of the mother and the child in such cases? But children born in such circumstances do not get citizenship. We do not want any such child to be deprived of Nepali citizenship. But we are not trying to provide citizenship to foreigners.”
One of those, who got a citizenship certificate on the recommendation of Koirala’s group, is a girl from a Shrestha family. She has passed SLC from the local Barahi Secondary School. Says Koirala: “A boy fell in love with a girl in our neighborhood and impregnated her. But later, he refused to marry her and fled. After giving birth to a baby the mother also ran away. Her grandmother and we reared the baby girl. It was very difficult to provide the girl with citizenship. But if you have the will, the impossible can become possible.”
She further adds: “The Woman Jagriti Mothers’ Group, the Paropakar Mothers’ Group and the Jalpadevi Mothers’ Group got together and convinced a cousin of the boy and provided the girl with citizenship. There are still five such children who need citizenship. Some elderly women are yet to receive it. So we are trying to provide citizenship to all.”
A daughter of an Acharya family in Gharmi (Pokhara) was threatened, humiliated and mistreated by her husband and his family because she had not brought adequate dowry. Married on 9 Dec. 2005, she was accused of carrying the baby of somebody else’s and beaten by her husband and in-laws, who then threw her in the jungle at night. Upon hearing the incident, the Woman Jagriti Mothers’ Group and human rights organizations lobbied for action against the perpetrators. The husband was put in police custody while the woman was admitted to hospital at the initiative of the mothers’ group, says President Koirala.
These mothers’ groups do not confine their activities to solving the problems of women. They are at the forefront of construction or renovation of temples in their respective toles, and also make necessary arrangements for daily pujas. Likewise, they participate in constructing water tanks and providing shelter for people in mourning. Such activities are done in partnership with men as well. In co-ordination with men, the Woman Jagriti Mothers’ Group has built a bridge that cost Rs 1.7 million to link Ward 4 with Ward 5.
President of the Paropakar Mothers’ Group Gomadevi Godar says her group has made economic transactions to the tune of Rs 1.7 million. The economic success of these mothers’ groups can be easily gleaned from the ability of the Maidan Mothers’ Group to provide steady economic support to a local secondary school.
A common feature of the mothers’ groups of Pokhara is that their members are only mothers, who consider their daughter-in-laws as their successors.
Anthropologist Suresh Dhakal of Tribhuvan University says the initiatives of mothers’ groups serves as an example for development in society. He opines that these activities, which are based on local resources, could form a firm basis for long-term development. “It is in itself a great achievement that these mothers’ groups have been able to mobilize local resources and engage in transactions worth Rs 1-1.2 million. Such activities should be gradually carried out elsewhere too.”
A regular source of the groups’ revenue is the levy raised from members every month. Money raised from playing Bhailo [during the Tihar festival], donation, financial assistance from local bodies and fees from training programs also contribute to their coffers.
Some mothers’ groups have their own building. Such groups have rented out some rooms. Some individuals, who return home from abroad, are known to have made donations worth Rs 4000-5000 to the mothers’ groups of their respective toles. Says President of the Maidan Mothers’ Group Laxmi Basnet: “If there is a marriage ceremony in the village, we attend it to sing and dance and contribute the money we thus receive to the groups’ fund.”
Members regard their groups’ fund as their own earnings. Their initiative, dedication and effectiveness have begun to draw the attention of INGOs. Such organizations are attracted to the work of mothers’ groups because they have realized that projects run by donor countries are not sustainable, says Laxmi Basnet, president of the Maidan Mothers’ Group.
(Sancharika Feature Service)