November 2024
Deepak, our trainer, informed us that today’s meeting would be very different from the previous ones and was crucial for understanding our standing within the community. He emphasized that this knowledge was essential for him to effectively advance the program. Motivated by his words, I completed my household chores, sent my children to school, and made sure to inform all participants to arrive at the meeting venue ahead of the scheduled time. I wanted to ensure everything was ready for Deepak to begin on time.
Shortly after, Deepak arrived at the meeting venue with another trainer. They greeted us warmly and started the session by reviewing what we had learned and achieved in our previous meeting. It felt great to revisit our progress together.
After the review, Deepak introduced the concept of Well-Being Ranking or Economic Status Ranking (ESR) for the day. He asked us what we thought it meant. Although we had no prior knowledge of it, we shared our thoughts. He patiently listened and jotted them down on newsprint. When we admitted we were unsure about the exact meaning, he explained it to us.
He told us that well-being ranking is a way to classify our economic status into four categories: ultra-poor, poor, medium-poor, and not-poor. To help us understand, he asked us to define what each of these terms might mean. It was challenging at first, but after some discussion, we managed to describe indicators for each category. For instance:
- People without land, who can’t afford medical treatment, suffer food shortages and have no stable income, are considered poor.
- Those with land, a good economic condition, and the ability to send their children to private schools are seen as not poor.
Deepak then explained how the Government of Nepal defines poverty, breaking it down further:
- Ultra-poor: Those who can only produce 0–3 months’ worth of food from their agricultural land and must rely on daily labor for survival.
- Poor: Those who can produce food for 4–6 months and must work for the rest to make ends meet.
- Medium poor: Those who produce food for 7–9 months but still need additional income for the rest of the year.
- Not poor/rich: Those who can sustain themselves year-round solely from their agricultural produce.
He drew a table with four columns, listing these categories and their indicators. Then, using meta cards with our names already written on them, he asked each of us to place our card in the category where we believed we belonged.
When my name was called, I felt nervous. What would others think? What if I placed my card incorrectly? I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and pasted my name under the ultra-poor category. Deepak then asked the group if they agreed with my placement. Everyone nodded, acknowledging that it matched my situation—no land for farming, struggling to meet basic needs, and unable to afford private schooling for my children.
One by one, all the women placed their names in the categories they felt fit their circumstances. By the end of the exercise, Deepak announced that 31 women, including me, had been selected for the WAWCAS program.
After the ranking activity, Deepak introduced us to the concept of a Social Map. He explained that creating a social map of our community would help locate the homes of WAWCAS members easily. Many of us were curious why this was necessary, and he explained that it would help us stay connected and support each other.
Although social maps are typically made using locally available materials, we didn’t have enough resources in the community. Thankfully, Deepak had brought materials like markers, pencils, newsletters, and colors. The activity was so engaging and enjoyable that we had fun finding and marking our houses.
That day’s WAWCAS meeting was an incredible experience—both educational and entertaining. It gave us a clearer understanding of our economic status and our place in the community. For me, it was a turning point. I now know I fall into the ultra-poor category, but I have made a promise to myself and to Deepak: I will work hard to move from ultra-poor to not poor in the coming years.
Thank you, Slisha and the WAWCAS program, for bringing such a meaningful initiative to our community. It has given us hope and a vision for a better future.