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Support this Padma Shree Awardee Feed The Musahar Community Of Bihar
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“For most of their lives they’re told that they don’t deserve a better life. They face disparity and disrespect everywhere. A day in their lives is very difficult and now their condition during the pandemic is horrible,” - Sudha Varghese, founder of the Nari Gunjan NGO, talking about the Musahar community of Bihar.
Who are the Musahars?
Belonging to the lowest rung of India’s caste hierarchy, the term ‘Musahar’ (‘Musa’ in Hindi means ‘rat’) loosely translates to ‘rat-eaters/rat-killers’, a result of the extreme poverty that has affected these people for years. They are still not allowed to live anywhere in the state except in hamlets that have been designated for them. They are mostly landless labourers without any skill set. They are oppressed and ostracized and are forced to live in unhygienic conditions.
Bihar has nearly 2.2 million Musahars, according to the state Mahadalit Commission’s interim report. Community activists however claim the population of Musahars is not less than 4 million in Bihar. Literacy rates among this community is only 9.8%, the lowest among Dalits in the country.
“Because of the pandemic, these people are not getting any work. And that means that they have no food at all for days. For months together, they have been starving and the worst part? They are treated as untouchables, they’re not allowed to stand in the same line as that of the others, the dealers increase the price of the ration to ensure their own profit. How are they supposed to survive?” - Sudha Varghese.
How is Nari Gunjan helping these downtrodden people?
In 1987, Varghese launched Nari Gunjan, a non-profit organisation to help Dalit women of the Mushahar community become aware of and access their rights. In 2005 she established a residential school named Prerna on the outskirts of Danapur, Patna. Her efforts have won her several laurels, including the Padma Shree, which is the fourth highest civilian award in India, and others such as ‘Icon of Bihar.’ She was also awarded the ‘Vanitha Woman of the Year’ award in 2017.’ The award, instituted by the Malayala Manorama Group, recognised her tireless efforts to empower the Musahars.
Over the years, Nari Gunjan has worked with thousands of Musahar girls and women in Bihar through non-formal education centers and women’s groups. 33 years later, Nari Gunjan is not just an organization, but also a movement that continues to spread across the Musahar community throughout the state and beyond.
How can you help?
The pandemic has worsened their conditions and so Sudha Varghese, through her organization, is now determined to help them. She wants to distribute 5000 ration kits to the Musahar community but she won’t be able to do all of this on her own. She needs our help - let us come forward in large numbers and support this downtrodden and helpless community.
About the NGO: Nari Gunjan (Women’s Voice) was started in 1987 and was later registered in 2000-2001 under the leadership of Sudha Varghese, who was working with the community that was most in need, the Musahars. Among the Musahars, the women have less than 1% literacy rate, and it is 2% for the men. Over the years, the organization has worked with thousands of Musahar girls and women in Bihar through non-formal education centers and women’s groups. Now, 33 years later, Nari Gunjan is not just an organization, but also a movement that continues to spread across the Musahar community, which is estimated at 2 million people throughout the state and beyond.
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