By Matters India Reporter

Kochi: A Catholic nun who works among the lowest among the low castes in Bihar has won the prestigious Vanitha Women of the Year’ award.

Sister Sudha Varghese, regarded as a spokesperson for the marginalized, was chosen in recognition of her dedicated her life for the advancement of the marginalized Musahar community of Bihar through her organization Nari Gunjan (women’s echo).

The award, comprising a cash award of 100,000 rupees and a memento, is instituted by Vanitha (woman), a fortnightly magazine of the Malayala Manorama, Kerala’s leading newspaper owned by an Orthodox Christian family.

The award citation said it recognizes Sister Sudha’s tireless efforts to empower Musahar, a community in Bihar which lies at the bottom of India’s hundreds of Dalit sub-castes.

Leading television journalist Barkha Dutta, who presented the award at a function in Kochi, Kerala’s commercial capital, on December 12 commended the Catholic nun for bringing tremendous changes in the lives of poor women.

“A lot has changed in women’s lives in India, but a lot more needs to change,” Dutt said and noted that India’s current external and defense ministers are women.

“The Congress was led by a woman for quite a long time. In corporate too, women are on the top. Due to family pressure and household commitments, more than two crore (20 million) women had to leave their jobs since 2004 in our country. Women are not paid at par with men for the same work. When there is equality at home there will be equality at work,” she said on Dec 12 in Kochi.

There is inequality in the right to use mobile phones too, she pointed out.

Sister Sudha, a member of the Notre Dame Sisters Society in Patna, gave up her teaching position to serve the poorest of the poor.

When she started working among Musahars 21 years ago, caste discrimination and child marriages were rampant in the community. She lived in a sparse hut in Jamsath, a remote village near Patna, Bihar capital, helping to organize women from marginalized communities to stand up against caste and gender atrocities.

In 1987, she launched Nari Gunjan (women’s echo), a non-profit organization to help Dalit women become aware of and access their rights. Nari Gunjan runs several educational institutions and self-employment schemes to ensure that these women lead a productive and dignified life.

Balika Vidyalayas or residential schools for girls at upper primary level belonging to backward communities were opened at Lalkotti Danapur and Gaya. The other institutions run by Nari Gunjan included Mata Samiti (mothers committee) for mothers, around 40 anganwadi (kindergarten) across Bihar, care homes for girl children and elderly who were pushed to beggary on the streets, snacks manufacturing units, sanitary napkin production plants etc.

Physical and mental torture from a section of local people and authorities did not deter her from working to empower the socially and economically backward sections.

In 2006, Sister Sudha was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest Indian civilian award, for her significant contributions to society.

She is also the recipient of several prestigious honors including the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Shiksha Puruskar, Godfrey Phillips India Social Life Time Achievement Award, the Icon of Bihar Award, and Good Samaritan Award.

Speaking on the occasion, Kochi Metro Rail former managing director Elias George said people like Sister Sudha are making the country proud.

(Source: manoramaonline,com)