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 A role model called Laxmi Khanal

Laxmi Khanal has been a chairperson for Bhairab Gramin Mahila Kalyan Samuha for 11 years. The women’s group is situated in Bhairabsthan VDC, ward no.2 in Palpa district and is one of the 32 groups affiliated with the MS partner Women’s Welfare Association (WWA) in Tansen. Laxmi Khanal is widely known as a skilled social worker both inside and outside the group. Other women who see the strong and self confident woman in her two storey house say they would like to be like her. This, of course, makes her proud. But it is equally important to her that her relation with her husband has changed. “Being in the group has meant positive changes for me and my fellow members in socially, economically and politically.”

Laxmi Khanal points out that she and her fellow members are now able to go out, something which they were not allowed to do by their husbands before. As a member of the executive committee of WWA she goes to Tansen regularly. In a rural and rather traditional community this is indeed a big change since women mostly live their daily life in the small circles of the villages in the hilly area,

“Now I can attend meetings. I go to our group meetings in the small meeting hall we have made here. I take the bus to meetings at WWA in Tansen. My husband allows me to do that now – he would not do that before. But he can also see the benefits of me being active in the group. We now make decisions together on household matters - when to sell or buy a buffalo, for example.”

Laxmi Khanal sees the social and economical benefits as two sides of the same coin - “If I have no money how can I send my children to school? Social and economical changes are interlinked.” Economically her life condition has improved drastically after having trainings on how to improve the livestock and grow a variety of vegetables suitable for selling.

“I now earn more money than before. Actually I and my husband have separate accounting and each month we compare. I earn a lot more from selling vegetables, grass seeds and goat meat than he earns from the retail shop at the main road. Every year I earn 10 -15,000 rupees more than him!”

But what about spending the money then? Do they also make joint decisions in this regard ? “Yes”, says Laxmi. “My husband used to decide everything, but I started to ask him why he did not ask for my advice. I have convinced him to purchase a high breed buffalo instead of a local one. They produce more milk. We have also both decided to spend money on improving the house, having a latrine and a water tap. We have also used about two hundred thousand on my husband’s teeth treatment. He had to go to Chitwan for an operation. We could never have afforded this before.”

As for the changes in political aspects, Laxmi Khanal refers to the trainings given by WWA in leadership management and basic empowerment training. These trainings have encouraged them to ask about decisions concerning them at VDC level.

“We consider ourselves leaders of our community. For example we have managed to put pressure on the VDC when they were to use money on income generating activities. By our effort we ensured that the budget breakdown included women groups in nine wards who should all have 5000 rupees per year for five years. The money was then to be utilized in the forest user groups that we are also members of. We are not only asking for money but also seeking options for opportunities that can benefit our community. Actually one of our members is also in the VDC.”

The positive social, economic and political changes are visible to everyone. But what are the negative aspects of being the chairperson in a women’s group for 11 years? Even though she has also opened a small shop at home the heavier work load does not seem to bother Laxmi Khanal.
“My children help me and we open the shop only for some hours in the morning and evening. I like to work and see my livestock and vegetables grow. I am happy to have learnt so much on different issues.”

Still one negative thing comes to her mind. “I do remember that some women were talking in very bad language about me and the vice chairperson. They talked about us as persons who were “eating money” (being corrupt). I chose not to listen to this. And after a while they came themselves and apologized . They realized that I was able to build a better house because I started to earn more money after I learned how to grow vegetables. And I only used local manpower and resources in building the house which in return benefited others also. Now they are members of the group and we all bid welcome them!”