Waking up in the morning holding a basket, bucket, and broom, cleaning village toilets, and carrying human excreta on her head, Usha Chaumar has gone through such a plight of life. Life changed when by joined the organization called 'Sulabh International' and today she is the president of this organization which fights for cleanliness and raises her voice against manual scavenging. Usha is the voice of hundreds of such women today.
Prime Minister Modi has also honored Usha for cleanliness in the year 2015. She was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award in the year 2020, for her relentless and selfless efforts in promoting cleanliness drive awareness.
Although the discriminatory practice of manual scavenging was banned by The Employment of Manual Scavenging and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act in 1993, it continues to be practiced in some parts of India.
Usha was born in a Dalit family in Deeg village near Bharatpur, Rajasthan. She started manual scavenging with her mother at the age of just 7. There was no water connection in the house, so one had to go about two kilometers away to fetch water. At the age of just 10, she was married off to a sweeper of the local municipality in Alwar. After 4 years of marriage i.e. at the age of 14, she became gauna and she went to her in-law's house.
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Even at her in-law's house, she had to carry the scavenging along with her mother-in-law, and two sisters-in-law. She did not like this work at all. After all, who likes to pick up someone's filth?
There was no desire to eat food after returning from work. But they didn't have any other way either. Because there used to be a lot of untouchability among the people of their society, if they ever felt thirsty, water was also given to them from above.
Even touching someone was considered a crime. If by mistake they touched someone, they were threatened and cursed with many bad words. Was not allowed to buy goods from the shop. It was forbidden to go even to the temple.
In exchange for this work, they were given old clothes from their homes and stale dinner from someone's house, in their bags from far away. In lieu of wages, 10 rupees were received per member of a house and they were also thrown away. The women of the family used to earn around 300 rupees a month and the men of the house used to do the work of cleaning.
The big change in her life came in the year 2003 when she met Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of Sulabh International. Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak had gone to Alwar with the aim of working in a new direction in the lives of manual scavengers. But at that time the situation was such that no one was ready to meet him.
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In the summer of 2003, when she was going to do manual scavenging. Dr. Bindeshwar tried to stop her and the women accompanying her, they were all covered in ghunghat. She didn't know who it was who wanted to talk unnecessarily and there was some hesitation because she didn't talk to other men.
They felt that there would be some leader who would talk about electricity and water. But when Dr. Bindeshwar asked her why are she doing this work, and how much money do you get paid? To that she replied that her forefathers have been doing this work for years, so how can they leave it.
But when many women's groups were not ready to work with them, under the leadership of Usha somehow women gathered in Mahal Chowk. After further discussion, a women's group was formed.
Usha joined Dr. Bindeshwar's organization 'Nai Disha' in Alwar and started working there with a salary of Rs.1500 per month.
28 women joined the first group. There they were given the work of vermicelli, papad, lamp wick, sewing, embroidery, and making jute bags. They were taught tailoring, henna, and beautician work.
The organization also taught her to read. She learned the English language and today she can speak in front of many people without any fear.
Today the picture of Usha's life has completely changed. Sulabh International's NGO Nai Disha freed her from that life.
By 2010, she had joined all the manual scavenging women of Alwar. Due to this work, the income of these people also increased a lot.
Now Usha not only became an influential speaker but also raised her voice against the practice of manual scavenging. She also inspired women by roaming around the world.
Because of this work, she has traveled to America, Paris, New York, South Africa, and London. Has also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi many times, and has also tied Rakhi to her.
She learned to read the Vedas in 2017 and also recited the Vedas before the Prime Minister.
In the year 2008, wearing clothes made by her, the foreign model did a catwalk in a program organized by the UN under Mission Sanitation. 36 women, including his sister-in-law and sister-in-law, all did the catwalk there.
Usha Chaumar changed the lives of 157 women manual scavengers of Alwar and made them self-reliant.
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On behalf of the Sulabh International organization, the women manual scavengers were made to enter the Jagannath Temple located in Subhash Chowk in the east, and a collective aarti was performed. Later, a mass feast was also organized in her colony.
She participated in the cleaning work of Assi Ghat in Varanasi. For this Prime Minister Narendra Modi rewarded her in the year 2015.
She was invited to address the annual conference of the British Association of South Asian Studies (BASAS) on the topic of sanitation and women's rights in India.
She was invited as a special guest in the Kaun Banega Crorepati program.
Today she has become the president of Sulabh International organization.
Usha's husband, a resident of Hazuri Gate in Alwar city, works as a laborer. They have three children – two sons and a daughter. The daughter is doing graduation and the son works as a laborer with his father. Usha is satisfied that her next generation will not have to do this dirty work.
Earlier in society even touching someone was a crime for them, today the people there invite them to their homes. She is especially welcomed in the marriage ceremony. Now she is able to go to temples and worship.
A woman who could never speak up for her rights, today she has become the voice of hundreds of manual scavengers in the country. From being a weak and untouchable woman to leading a confident and dignified life, Usha has emerged as a perfect example of women's empowerment.
Regards and many best wishes to the reflection of women's empowerment on behalf of Jagdisha.
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