Women of Bahawalpur: The 51 per cent

How to turn a rupee into two rupees is a skill these women from Bahawalpur have learnt to change their lives.

BAHAWALPUR:

Teamwork on the field

Not so long ago, Shameem Bibi and her husband were just working on the lands of local landlords in Bahawalpur. “We did not have enough money to cultivate our own land,” she shared. Today, she owns half an acre of land on which she grows vegetables.

Shameem is a 30 year old resident of Basti Jaam Elahi village in Sama Satta near Bahawalpur. While talking to The Express Tribune, this female farmer shared that she sells vegetables in local markets. “My husband also works with me on the fields.” She explained that they plough the land themselves, water it and finally sow the seeds. “It is hard work and needs to be done with a lot of care.”

It all started when the couple got to know about loans offered by Khushhali Bank. “We applied for a loan of Rs17,000 and after receiving it, we started cultivating our own land.” “It takes around three months for the vegetables to grow. The vegetables are then cut and sold in the market,” explained Shameem.

Apart from working on her own land, Shameem and her husband also work in the fields owned by local landlords. “This brings more money for my family.”

Shameem is a mother of four children, two sons and two daughters. The eldest daughter, Asma, is 15 years old, whereas the youngest daughter, Saima, is six years old. “My daughters are receiving religious education,” said Shameem. Her sons, Muhammad Hassan and Muhammad Ahsan, are 14 years old and 7 years old respectively. “Hassan is studying in grade seven and Ahsan is in grade four.”

While Shameem and her husband have a strong desire to see their sons educated, Shameem would like to get her daughters educated as well. “We want Hassan and Ahsan to have good professions once they are done with their education,” she said.

According to Shameem, if the government starts to support them, they will be able to cultivate more land. “We could also start a livestock business,” she said, adding that loans should be interest free.

The animal farm

Six years ago, Zareena Bibi took a loan of Rs26,000 from Khushhali Bank, with which she started her livestock business. The beginnings were humble; she bought a cow for Rs 10,000 that was about to give birth.

After the calf was born, Zareena sold the cow for Rs 61,000 and kept the calf. With that amount of money, she bought two more cows. Today, she owns two cows, two calves, two sheep and two goats. “I love the work that I do. Taking care of livestock is just like taking care of children,” shared the proud Zareena. She has only received education till primary school level, but now she is supporting her entire family.

A resident of Chak number 140/DB of Tehsil Yazman Mandi, near Bahawalpur, the 45 years old Zareena has been married for over two decades. She has four children. “My eldest son, Sultan, is 20 years old and he helps me out,” she said. Sultan sells the milk of the cows in the market. The other three children are daughters below the age of 15 who are receiving religious education.

According to her, she sells 10 kilograms of milk daily. “It is an income of Rs 600 a day which is enough for my family.” Her husband, Muhammad Shareef, used to work as a security guard from which he earned a monthly Rs1700. “I asked Shareef to leave his job so that he would start helping me with my business, which he did.”

While talking to The Express Tribune, Zareena said that she has never backed off from working. “After I got married, I worked very hard to earn a living,” shared Zareena adding that the money has led to her constructing a house. “My family and I are residing in that house today.”

“I have leased half an acre of land for which I have to pay a yearly Rs20,000,” said the enterprising Zareena. She grows animal fodder on that piece of land. She also has set up a small shop at home of basic grocery items.

Zareena had applied for the Prime Minister’s loan scheme but she did not meet the criteria, and therefore feels that “it is not for the poor. If I get the loan, I can use it for business expansion.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2014.