What is your name, your age, and your village?
- Bhuri Parjapat, 15, from Kakelau
Do you currently make money sewing? What is your monthly wage?
- She sews at home, selling to friends and villagers. She estimates 600 rupees per month.
How long did you train with Veerni?
- She trained for two months at Veerni office, then ran the Kakelau sewing center for six months.
Would you like to have more sewing training? What is your opinion of Veerni’s training?
- Veerni’s training was good, but she wants to learn to make modern clothing and to tailor. She wants to sew for men as well.
Are you married?
- Yes, but not effectively (she is still living with her family).
Are you literate?
- She passed the 8th and is studying privately to pass the 10th.
Do you keep your salary or do you give it to someone else?
- She keeps the money at her home, in a box, and does not give it to anyone else. It is all for her.
Does your sewing income influence how you are treated in the home, by your husband and your mother-in-law?
- She is treated well by the family. They say that she supports herself. The parents will pay for her wedding. She will not contribute to that.
Has earning money empowered you?
- She feels that she has done well to accomplish all that she has. She feels very good about who she is. “I can spend money however I want.” Here, she said that she likes to give some to her little brother.
Has earning money given you self-respect, the respect of others?
- Her self –respect has definitely increased.
Should women work?
- All women should work, she says. It will support you your whole life. You can have new clothes, education.
Yes, self-employment is important, definitely.