By HH Mohrmen
“Life is a challenge,” says the old adage, but it is meant for ordinary people whose challenges come and go. It is meant to motivate ordinary people like us to move on with life. One may say that everyone has their own problems, and every person in this world faces challenges. While we all have difficulties in life and our problems may vary, these challenges are even greater for those with disabilities. People with disabilities already have the major disadvantage in their disability, but in addition, they face the same daily challenges as any other person.
This is the story of an empowered visually impaired woman who changed her fortune through sheer grit and determination. Despite the difficulties of being blind, she is full of life. She never blames anyone for the challenges she faces nor curses the day she was born. Instead, she accepts life as it is and lives it with grace. This is the story of Durka Sari from Mukhla village, who is completely blind but has created a life for herself despite her disability. She has encountered many challenges, but with the support of others and her indomitable spirit, she has overcome them. She is very direct and has the courage to ask questions without hesitation.
Durka had a difficult childhood, but her school days offered a glimpse of what she would later become. Despite being blind, she was full of zest for life. Her inability to see did not stop her from playing with her friends, joining them in adventures in the forest, and even climbing trees. Though completely blind, she tried to be like any other child, helping with household chores such as washing dishes, doing laundry, and fetching water from the well, all without a white cane because she didn’t have one at the time.
She loved learning and, although she couldn’t see, she attended school regularly like any other child her age. Unfortunately, the Lower Primary School in her village lacked the resources and staff to teach children with special needs. Since she couldn’t see, she could only listen to what the teacher taught. However, her impairment enhanced her ability to memorize what she heard. Driven by her desire to learn, she worked extra hard to remember everything from class. Sadly, despite her remarkable memory, she couldn’t progress because her advancement was based on her ability to write during exams.
Her teacher discouraged her from continuing her education, telling her, “You’re just wasting your time.” The teacher also said, “There is no point in you attending classes because you cannot write your exams.” Embarrassingly, she was stuck in the same class while girls her age and even her younger siblings advanced. Eventually, she lost interest and dropped out of school. However, her incredible memory served her well later in life. She often shared with her family what she had learned, and they marveled at her ability to relay news from the radio without missing a word.
Durka is not one to give up easily. Her name, after all, is that of the invincible goddess, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. As she grew older, she attempted to make a living by opening a small grocery shop near her house, but she had to close it when people took advantage of her disability. She then tried selling mobile phone recharges, but it wasn’t profitable. In search of a sustainable livelihood, she learned about a training program in broom-making designed for visually impaired individuals from friends who shared her challenges. Filled with excitement, she attended the one-month training organized by the Society for Urban and Rural Empowerment (SURE) at Moosakhia village, which became a turning point in her life. The training not only connected her with others facing similar challenges but also equipped her with the skills to earn a livelihood and live independently.
On February 20, 2024, Patricia Mukhim, editor of The Shillong Times, visited Durka at her workshop. The two quickly connected, and during their conversation, Durka showed her the small workspace, explaining how the training had changed her life. “In the past, I was just a keeper of my sister’s babies,” Durka said. “When one sister had a baby, I had to take care of her child. When my younger sisters gave birth too, I had no choice but to shoulder that responsibility. But now, after the training, I tell them, (ïa kha hi, ïa peit hi) ‘They are your children, you take care of them!’” She proudly added. I looked at kong Patricia and said “Kong, that is empowerment.” Durka’s empowerment is however, further demonstrated by her other experiences.
Durka is aware of her rights and the schemes available to people with disabilities. Once, she approached the Dorbar Chnong of her locality to apply for the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme, but her application was initially delayed. The community leaders questioned why she needed her own house since she was blind and unmarried. They argued that no one would take care of the house after her, making it a waste of public resources. “Why do you need a house of your own?” they asked. Durka firmly replied that government schemes should not discriminate based on disability, asserting her right to the scheme. The leaders had no choice but to propose her name for the PMAY scheme. One of them remarked, “She seems to know a lot. Let’s propose her name, or she might file a complaint.” And he was right.
A similar incident occurred when Durka applied for the special job card earmarked for people with disabilities under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The Village Employment Committee (VEC) Secretary delayed processing her application, perhaps thinking that, as a blind woman, she couldn’t do much. However, he was shocked when the government agency held him accountable. After receiving inquiries from the authorities, he confronted her, asking, “Why did you complain about me to the authorities?” Durka calmly explained that she had done nothing wrong and had only answered the authorities truthfully when they asked if she had received her job card.
The broom-making training conducted by Society fo Urban and Rural Empowerment (SURE) and supported by the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) had a profound impact on her life. After completing the training, Durka immediately began planning her business. At first, she didn’t have a dedicated workspace, and since broom-making requires space because the pollen can cause itching, she requested space from her mother. She was given a room in her sister’s house to use as her workshop. This is how her broom-making business began. The training transformed Durka from a visually impaired homemaker and reluctant caretaker of her nieces and nephews into an entrepreneur.
There is no turning back for Durka. Her first experience selling brooms was with her visually impaired friend, Heiyoobit Mitre Dhar (Iba) from Wahïajer. The two attended the same training and partnered to start their business. On March 19, 2024, International Social Work Day, Durka and Iba set out to sell their brooms. Armed only with their white canes, they visited nearby schools and even the District Court office in West Jaintia Hills, Jowai. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many praised their determination and bought their brooms, with some even donating extra money to support their business. Rather than going to the market, they targeted institutions like schools, colleges, and offices, where they hoped to sell more brooms, and their plan worked.
To expand her business, Durka approached a bank in Ummulong. Initially, the manager hesitated to provide her with a loan, doubting her ability to repay it. Disheartened but determined, Durka didn’t give up. Taking advantage of her membership with the Self Help Group, she then approached the (SHG), which gave her a small loan. Later she approached the Integrated Village Cooperative Society (IVCS) in Mukhla, which also provided her with a loan. After repaying the loans from the SHG and IVCS, she approached the Meghalaya Apex Bank, Ummulong Branch, with all her credentials and was granted a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan, which she is now repaying. The last time I visited Durka, she had moved into her new house, constructed under the PMAY scheme on land donated by the Dorbar Chnong, and had started working from there. She is indeed a classic example of a blind person who was able to reach new heights in life through her own efforts. In a country where startups and entrepreneurs are appreciated, Durka has not only shone as an entrepreneur par excellence, but she has also made the best use of all the government schemes and projects.
For us, the ability to make brooms is not the ultimate goal of the training we provide. The greatest achievement is when they venture out of their homes to sell their products. Our goal is to see them become as independent as possible, and when they reach that level of self-reliance, we know we have succeeded.