August 2023
Sima, our trainer, told us this meeting would be different from the previous meeting, so I completed all my household work on time with some help from my husband. Then I went to the meeting place. All women who were interested in joining the WAWCAS program went to the meeting place. After a few minutes, Sima also came there. She greeted us and started the meeting with a warm welcome and a review of the last meeting.
Sima informed us, that today is the day of well-being-ranking. She asked us what well-being-ranking was about. We had no idea what well-being-ranking was. She explained to us, that it is the ranking of our economic status and that we should do it based on 4 categories. The 4 categories were ultra-poor, poor, medium-poor, and not poor. Then she also asked us to make an indicator of all categories. We discussed it a lot and finally agreed on the indicators of all categories. Although it was very tough for us, we defined the indicators like; the people who don’t have land, have difficulty to educate their children, have difficulty of getting medical treatment when they are ill, difficulty to provide food for the children, and have got economic problem was an indicator for being ultra-poor. The people who have no difficulty to give necessary things needed for the children, can go to good schools, and have a good life are not poor.
The Nepal government defines poverty,
- If a person has 0-3 months of food from the produce of their agricultural land for the rest, they have to do labor work. Without work they are not able to feed themselves are ranked as an ultra- poor.
- If a person has 4-6 months food from the produce of their agricultural land for the rest, they have to do the labor work. Without work they are not, able to feed themselves are ranked as poor.
- If a person has 7-9 months food from the produce of their agricultural land for the rest, they have to do the labor work, they are not able to feed themselves are ranked as medium poor.
- If a person has, all around the food from produce of their agricultural land are ranked as not-poor.
She had brought our names written in papers. She explained that we had to place the names in the columns of the 4 categories; ultra-poor, poor, medium poor, not poor. She started calling out the names for conducting the well-being ranking. When my name was called, and she handed me my name I was confused where I should place my name. I was very surprised also because the day before I never thought of my economic status. I closed my eyes and thought of my financial condition, and where I had to place my name. My economic status was matching the ultra-poor category because I am not able to fulfill my basic needs, so I knew the answer myself. I can’t afford good health services and I only have 0-3 month of food from the produce of my agricultural land, so I placed my name in the ultra-poor section. Sima asked the other women if I belonged in the ultra-poor category? The other women also agreed that I belonged in the ultra-poor section. Likewise me, other women also placed their name when it was their turn. After finishing economic-status ranking, sima told us that 27 women were selected for the WAWCAS program.
After the finishing the economic-status ranking, Sima asked us to make a social map of the location of our house. I asked her why it was necessary to make a social map. She explained to us that the social map helps us to find out the WAWCAS member’s house easily. Then we started to make the social map. It was a very interesting session because I enjoyed finding my house very much. I felt very happy to attend the WAWCAS program meeting that day. So, I immediately asked Sima when the next meeting was held. I am very much excited for the next meeting. I really thanked Sima to support the placing of my economic status through the ESR-tool.
Today, I realized that I belong to the ultra-poor; today the WAWCAS program opened my inner eyes to help me have a vision from ultra-poor to not poor in a few years.