Suchana Mijar
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Authors
Kishor Sharma
Issue Date
2017-05
Type
Language
en
Keywords
Agriculture , Transport
Alternative Title
Abstract
Suchana Mijar is 20 and lives in the village of Mana, in the far west of Nepal. She and her husband Janga have a 9 month old daughter, Sonisa. The family grow rice, beans, potatoes, maize and millet. Janga works in India as a labourer to supplement the family income. With the help of the BICAS project they are now trying out some new crops and are delighted with the new gravity goods ropeway. When Suchana was pregnant with Sonisa Janga was away most of the time so Suchana had to carry the heavy loads up and down the trail. Early in her pregnancy she was carrying a load of grass up the trail when she slipped and fell around 25 metres breaking her shoulder. She had to go to India for treatment and was there with Janga for almost 6 months. “During my early pregnancy I used to have to carry heavy loads because my husband was away. I was always worried about losing my baby because of the strain on my body." she told us. “Whenever my husband was back from India he helped with all the carrying to and from the market, but when he was away it was down to me." When she returned to the village she went into labour and was carried down the hill by the midwife and some helpers in a basket. But before arriving at the medical centre at the bottom she gave birth on the trail. Fortunately her baby was unharmed and healthy. “I was carrying 30 to 40 kgs and the trail condition was very poor. About once a month I was carrying maize or something down to sell. I was carrying things up three or four times a month. My stomach and back used to hurt and I was always worried I was going to faint and slip. I was very scared. “On the day I gave birth I was suffering greatly. I was crying all the time and in great pain. Some young boys were carrying me down the trail to try and reach the hospital. I thought I was going to die and I knew it was very possible. Suchana ia delighted that her village now has its own gravity goods ropeway. “I was very happy when I saw the ropeway working because now we won’t ever need to carry heavy loads to and from the market again. Just thinking about the past year makes me appreciate the difference. The chance of injury or death is much lower now.” “I feel happy that nobody else will have to carry those heavy loads up and down the trail. Sonisa will not have to carry a heavy load like her mother or grandmother and I will have more time so I will be able to look after her better." “We now are starting to grow more vegetables – bitter gourde, pumpkins and tomatoes so we can eat more variety. I believe my daughter will have a healthier future. Maybe in the future we can sell more. I want to educate my children better than the level I got to so they can get good jobs."
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All rights reserved