I met kavitha during my visit to Pandharkawada village, Yavatmal district, Vidarbha
This is the story of Kavitha, who is a mother, a babhi, a daughter, a wife, a homemaker, now a farm widow turned farmer in the #suicide capital of India, Vidarbha and she is just 27 years of age. Despite the gravity of the situation, she spoke with great confidence and she spoke with an infectious smile.
The mother:
Manasi, her 8 year old daughter, was very happy since it was the Independence Day and she wore her favorite 10 Rs tri-colored hair band.
The 2 year old daughter was home with her in laws.
The mother also told how she draped her daughter with a tri-colored saree and when how when Manasi entered the class room everyone would say “Look Bharat Mata is walking into the classroom”.
The Bhabi:
Bhabi was very worried about her 15 year old brother-in-law because he wasn’t getting any work. He only had 2 pairs of dresses which he carefully juggled through. He would be very calm and very quiet, often refused to take part in any social gatherings or any celebrations. He didn’t have any footwear, which was one reason why he was feeling very shy to move around. Bhabi was very happy when they managed to buy a pair of chappals for Rs 100.
The daughter:
Her parents were working as landless laborer s and their income these days isn’t consistent. They have work only on a few days. Her brother is also looking for a job. She is worried about her brother as well who is looking for a job.
The homemaker:
The kids school expenses aren’t that much. The books, uniforms etc. cost about Rs 500 a year. It’s the other expenses that add up to about Rs 3000 or so.
The wife:
Kavitha finished her 12th grade and after her marriage had discontinued her studies. Her husband was very troubled and increasingly frustrated over his helplessness and his never-ending debt situation. He had shared this with Kavitha as well but she could not anticipate that her husband would take such an extreme step.
The farmer:
3 acres of land is all she has on which she cultivates cotton and soya bean. There is an outstanding loan with the bank which hasn’t waived yet. The price of cotton in the market isn’t guaranteed and there has hardly been any rains adding more trouble to the already troubled situation.
There have been many Kavitha’s before, many Kavitha’s now and unfortunately, if no intervention, there would be many more.
If we blame the politicians for being indifferent, then we are to be blamed equally, for we are indifferent to their sufferings
If we blame the govt for being ignorant, then we are to be blamed equally, for we are completely ignorant of their sufferings.
If we blame the govt for not having the will to solve the crisis, we are to be blamed equally, for we never had the will to question and hold our ministers responsible and accountable.
I don’t know who to blame exactly but yet I am to be blamed equally. When I invest some money in a bank to get higher returns or to secure my future, that security comes at the cost of someone paying his debt. When I build a house for myself in order to secure shelter, that comes at the cost of someone not being able to have any while the need of a separate shelter is being fortified by me or anyone giving it a continuity, knowing when there is no need of a separate shelter, there is no shortage of it either. When there is no need of securing my food for tomorrows breakfast, there is no shortage of it either, when there is no need of securing my money in a bank for my old age, there is no shortage of it for someone in their young age. Can I destroy this whole economic construct which has come into its present state after centuries of effort? Or I just take a short cut and arrange some charity so this situation may continue? Or I give them hope so one day they help me become someone to solve their problems and hence make them forget what they are in?
An economist will say, strengthen the economy only then you can solve it. I say let it fall to a point nothing remains.