लॉकडाउन में सुधा - Sudha in Lockdown

Since childhood Sudha liked to study. When she was in the 5th or 6th standard she would study for long hours. But from then onwards the pressure of work started increasing. Cooking at home, washing utensils, looking for the other members of the family, was all her responsibility. Soon she started distancing herself from her studies. Her father’s constant illness brought a financial crisis at home . So, Sudha along with her sister started going to the fields to work. She lived in a small village called Orap in Buxar district of Bihar.

One day Sudha’s mother was selected as a cook in Orap Primary High School. As their mother started cooking, both the sisters along with the other women of the neighbourhood started working on the fields of rich people. Their mother started earning Rs.50/- per day, because of which she again had a hope that her daughters can pursue their studies. She registered the name of both the daughters in the same school.

Sowing paddy, reaping, weeding and reaping of wheat or mustard took place from time to time; not the whole year round. The money was given only for sowing paddy, cereals were given for the rest of the work.

Sudha and her sister shared the field and the household work among themselves. They also went to school. Time started passing, both the sisters became wordly wise as they worked with the elders. So, along with the work they continued their studies.

When Sudha was in 10th standard her school was far from home and she often remained absent from school. She didn’t have enough money to join separate tuition classes. In her village tutorial classes, all the subjects were taught well but it was beyond her means to join. She started preparing for her exams on her own at home. She borrowed books from her friends to study. Earlier books were provided from the school. But in high school books are not given. Anyway, Sudha studied very hard day and night for her exams, with a lot of hope. But still her results were not very good. She remained unsuccessful. She was totally broken.

Sudha’s father consoled her and said not to lose hope and give up. He was an educated man. Sudha got motivated from his words. With the help of her mother she again gave up on her exams, but failed. She became worried and started wondering what will happen now, as she had failed twice.

Sudha saw a ray of hope as her mother’s salary kept increasing. Since last year her mother was earning Rs. 1000/- per day. The sisters were also earning Rs.100/- a day from the fields. All this was a big support for the poor family. Sudha was behind in studies from her friends because she had failed twice. But Sudha did not give up. She told her parents that she wanted to join the tuition classes and her mother immediately gave her Rs. 500/- for that.

There was a teacher in Sudha’s village who gave tuitions. She spoke to him and he agreed to teach her. Sudha took classes from him for 3 months, though she could pay fees only for 2 months and not the third. After giving her exams , in 2019, Sudha cleared her 10th boards with third division. She was very happy and wanted to continue her studies . Her mother supported her on every step and got her name registered in the Intermediate College.

Then there was news about a pandemic and a prevention lockdown was declared. During the lockdown Sudha’s mother’s school got closed. Her salary stopped well. It became difficult to make arrangements for ration at home. There was rice and pulses but in a very small quantity ,but no soap to bathe or wash with. Everybody’s problem arose. The news was constantly asking people to maintain cleanliness. Every time Sudha watched T.V. or heard the news she would be amazed .

How to keep things clean! Sudha saw no sign of cleanliness in her family. Soon after the lockdown somehow for a month she bore the expenses of her house with her wages. Then she sold a part of the wheat and rice from her household ration to buy surf and soap. In between, her father fell sick. One of the reasons was shortage of money and the other was and the other was unavailability of medicine. Then again, when it was time for reaping , she sold wheat to buy medicine for her father.

During this period, Sudha’s brother fell ill. He was diagnosed with water in his lungs. There was a shortage of money at home. Now Sudha was losing hope and strength. Her studies stopped. When there is not sufficient money for a brother's treatment, where would she get money for studies.

Sudha could not get admission for 11th and 12th in the Intermediate College. She enrolled herself in a private College. Government has waived off the fee but as she is in a private college she could not avail the benefits. In private college one form costs Rs.100/- whereas in government college it's for free. The pandemic has spread so much that everything is difficult. Only when the lockdown is over,will there be some employment and then something can be done.

During the lockdown somehow farming work is continuing but Sudha’s mother’s wages have stopped. Government said the employees will be given half salary. Which is also not coming. No one has raised voice for wages, and there are many families like Sudha’s whose financial position is deteriorating. But Sudha’s world is shattering. With great effort she has brought her world of education forward. To go from 11th to 12th no exam took place in the Intermediate College . Money is required for 12th standard. At present, Sudha has no money, what kind of lockdown was this!