July 2025
Hello and Namaste to all my lovely readers,
This blog is about how I earn extra income besides running my small business. I come from an ultra-poor family and a Dalit community, and life has been a constant struggle since my childhood. In every step of life—education, food, dignity—I faced problems. But I never gave up because I want a better life for my children. I don’t want them to suffer the way I did, just to meet their basic needs. That dream keeps me going.
The heat of June and July : Paddy season and pain
The months of June and July are extremely hot in the Terai region. These months also signal the start of the paddy planting season—a chance for us to earn some money by working in others’ fields. However, this year, we did not receive timely rainfall. Due to the delay in the rain and lack of water, paddy planting had been postponed. Deepak informed us that the Nepalese government has announced that eight districts in the Terai region are facing potential disasters. We need to be alert; listening to this news makes our hearts ache. How will we survive? However, some people who have pumps for watering of their land have started planting and are working there. As a result, we earn 600 rupees per day, but working in the sun, we feel we will also burn like bushes. With the heat of the sun, bushes are just burning, which is very stressful.
Family support
During these two difficult months, it’s also hard for my husband to find work. So to manage our family expenses, both of us work in the agricultural fields whenever we can. Thankfully, my children have a school holiday for one month. While I go out for daily wages, my children stay home and help take care of our pigs and the house.
My eldest daughter wakes up early in the morning, cooks food for everyone, and does household work. Her support makes my heart full. Every day, I leave home at 6 a.m. and return by 6 or 7 p.m., working alongside other women in the fields.
Sometimes, being with my women’s group gives me moments of joy—we talk, sing, laugh, and even dance while working. But deep inside, I sometimes feel sad when I remember my situation. In those quiet moments, I pray to God to give me the strength, confidence, and hope to keep fighting in life until my last breath.
In today’s world, life is becoming too expensive. Without money, survival feels impossible. Even vegetables, fruits, rice, oil, and other basic needs are so costly that it is hard for poor families like us to manage. Rich families may not feel it much, but we poor people feel the burden of every single rupee. Every day is a challenge. Every rupee we earn is from sweat, pain, and sacrifice.
Hope , education , and a better future
Apart from daily wages, I have also done paddy cultivation in a small rented land, hoping it will help us during food shortages.
One thing that brings me hope is SLISHA WAWCAS. They have started tuition classes for our children, and now I don’t have to worry as much about my children’s education. When I ask my kids about the classes, they always smile and say, “Ama,(mother) it’s good!”
Also, our pigs have grown big and healthy, and I hope to make a good profit when we sell them soon. That income will help us in many ways.
I want to say thank SLISHA WAWCAS and Deepak Sir for the support and care. You have given us something we never had before—hope. I feel proud and happy to be a part of the WAWCAS family.
And finally, thank you to all my dear readers for reading my blog. Your love and support give me strength to move forward with my head held high.
With gratitude
Salita Devi