Celebrations of International Women’s Day in Torpa (in the north of India) are always a truly special event, and so it was again this year.
Celebrations of International Women’s Day in Torpa (in the north of India) are always a truly special event, and so it was again this year. On March 11, 2015, more than 2,600 women, many with small children, from 40 villages gathered for a full day educational program which had as title “Agriculture our Livelihood.” Dr. Arti Ekka, Director of the KVK Agriculture Institute in East Singhbhum was the main speaker. Among our many guests were District collector Mr. Waghmare IAS, who was our chief guest, as well as many other government officers from the District and block level, bank managers, government doctors and press people.
In addition to hearing presentations, the women enacted street plays and action songs. Some women narrated their success stories of vegetable cultivation, lac cultivation and SRI paddy cultivation which is a new way of farming. There was an exhibition of Self Help Groups who have initiated income generating activities in Lac handicraft, Bamboo-craft, snack-making, vegetable cultivation, Rexene (artificial leather) bag-making and fashion design. Together the women were able to make sales of around Rs 35000/- (which is roughly the equivalent of US $590).
The day started at 9:30 am and ended at 3 pm with a meal and all the women dancing on the campus.
Daphne Sequeira, rscj
Province of India
April 2015
