Birmala Pariyar - without a smoke hood
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Authors
Prabin Gurung
Issue Date
2016-08
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Language
en
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Abstract
Bimala is 51 years old; she lives with 10 members of her family – 3 sons, her husband, one daughter, two granddaughters and one grandson. She does not have a smoke hood and cooks all meals on a three stone stove. “Before the earthquake, I had a clay stove, I now have a 3 stone stove.” “It takes me 2-3 hours to cook meals and I do this three times a day.” “We’re running out of fuel.” “My kids are daily waste labourers but it depends if there is work.” “My husband is old and can’t work.” “We have had to borrow money from relatives.” “We don’t use the stove in the house because of the smoke.” During the monsoon season, this makes it very difficult to prepare dinner for the family. “Sometimes I have to cook with an umbrella, it’s difficult but I have to prepare the meal. Sometimes the food is half cooked.” “Everything was black, it was so smokey and we couldn’t sit in the house.” Her young granddaughter Rijan shared: “I’m used to it. I used to cough.” Bimala added “we used to take her to the Doctor’s sometimes because she used to cough.” Rijan continued “I like the hood stove better, I have seen it at my friend’s house. I would love to have one.” “It would be less smokey and I would be able to study better.” Bimala continued to explain the problems she has experienced “I have breathing problems and problems with my eyes.” “I started cooking when I was 5.” “I am worried about the grandchildren but what can I do?” Sijan is the eldest granddaughter (age 11) and helps her grandma with the cooking. She helps prepare everything but the meat. If Bimala could spend less time cooking (cooking on an improved stove takes less time) then she would: “I would spend this time taking care of the cattle and making feed for them. I would also help my relatives with their work too.” Rijan said she would “make tea and study.”
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All Rights Reserved
All rights reserved
All rights reserved