Snake charmer girls study, usher in winds of change (Feature with image)

SAPERA BASTI - Promila is pursuing her graduation and is a role model for her entire village. Considering she hails from a snake charmers’ community where education is hardly a priority, and for women a taboo, this feisty 19-year-old’s achievement is a big deal.

“I am the only girl in my village to have reached the graduation level. There are a few others who are in school, but none who have managed to reach college,” a chirpy Promila told IANS in her village near Badarpur on the edge of the capital.

Originally from Rajasthan, the inhabitants of Sapera Basti, which literally means snake charmers’ village, settled here decades back in search of better livelihood options. Education never featured in their priority list since it was taken for granted that their profession - snake charming - would be passed down from generation to generation.

“Even after the ban on snake charming came into effect thanks to the wildlife protection bill, other livelihood options were explored, but educating their sons was never considered an option. As far as the women’s role went, like in any other patriarchal society, they were hardly meant to step out of their homes,” said Bhagyashree Dengle, executive director of Plan India, an NGO that works with the community.

According to Dengle, it took an intervention of over 12 years to slowly convince community members about the benefits of education and start sending their children to school. Even then, educating the girls was a big challenge.

Kamlesh Chauhan, one of the very first women of the village who went to school, said: “I have studied till Class 10. It may not sound too impressive but considering all the challenges that I had to face, it is for me.

“When I was in Class 6, my parents withdrew my admission since the villagers had started saying it’s not good to over-educate girls! My teachers and members of the NGO came to my home to make my parents change their mind, which they did, but for another two years,” she said.

“In Class 8, my relatives said it was time for me to tie the knot. Another round of pleading followed and finally my parents gave in. I managed to study till Class 10 and after some time I got married,” Chauhan said.

Instead of sitting at home thereafter, Chauhan decided to look for work and found a job in a nursing home. She now earns a decent packet and helps her husband run the home.

“I have a six-year-old daughter who goes to school. With the little education that I had, I am able to lead a fairly independent life, but I will make sure that my daughter studies much more than me so that she can lead an even better life,” she said with confidence.

While things have changed for the better since Chauhan’s days, Promila says much needs to be done, especially for the womenfolk in her village.

“The problem of early marriage is rampant in my village. After completing my graduation in social work, I plan to work in my village to remove this custom. I also want to encourage female literacy,” Promila said.

While the number of girls from this village who are in school is not much - 15 or 20 - even that is a welcome change.

Anuja Nath, a village resident whose daughter goes to school, said: “The men of the village earn little and even that is wasted on alcohol. We women take care of the livestock, get firewood and work at home.

“I don’t want my daughter to lead a life like most of us. I want her to study, get a good job and lead a comfortable life. In fact, thanks to her going to school I came to know of a three-month beautician’s course and I enrolled in it, so I hope even I can earn some extra money,” Nath told IANS.

Promila said: “Since I am doing my graduation through correspondence, I have time to give tutions to kids and also use my extra time to paint henna on women’s hands at weddings. I also work as a peer counsellor and sensitise youngsters like me about HIV/AIDS, health and hygiene.”

“My parents are very proud of me and I hope that I can help things change more, so that all families can be proud of their daughters like mine,” she smiled.

(Azera Rahman can be contacted at azera.p@ians.in)