Rimpa and Shampa– We are returning from school. School starts from 10.30 in the morning and thenwe have amid-day break where we get kidchhi to eat with some boiled potatoes and vegetables. There is a recession break for half an hour after lunch and we resume school again. After another three periods we have games and sports. After school on a few days a few girls stay back to help with the washing of the dishes and plates with their mothers. It happens in turn. On Some days our mothers come together and we stay back to help them with the washing. On other days there are other mothers and their girls.
Vibhuti Mondol– I have just finished school. We begin school early in the morning and finish by 10 a.m. After that I go home. There are many things to be done at home; help ma with the washing of clothes and utensils, sweep and swab and cut vegetables. Ma has to also cook and go to people’s houses to wash clothes, cook and clean their homes. She comes back in the evening. Father works in the field. He comes late at night. Sometimes when the food is not good he beats ma with the broom, slippers and even a stick.
Vinod Kanji- O babu, where have you come from? Why are you taking my picture? Are you a journalist? Are you from the government? Are you from Kolkata?
Gulshan Ara- I am off to the market to search for work. Some one or the other is always there with some work or the other. Cleaning of ponds or wells, cutting down trees, some construction work. Any type of work will do. After all one has to fill one’s stomach and one cannot survive on fresh air and water.
Lakshmi and Laboni– Today we have a special class for Environmental Education. We will learn how to plant seedlings and care for them. I (Lakshmi) had forgotten to buy the pot, so I went off in the morning with my friend to the haat (market) to get one. Some of the other girls will bring seeds, some will bring the compost, and others will fetch the soil. It is going to be an interesting class, I am sure.
Raju and Manoj– We transport goods from one place to another. We have a tie-up with a few shops and vendors. They know us well now. Per trip we charge Rs. 120/- depending on the goods and the distance. Sometimes a vendor will want to engage us for an entire day and pay us Rs. 600/- We could take that depending on how many trips we have to make and the distance from one place to another.
Manju and her mother-in-law- Ma was injured in an accident several years ago. There was no way where we could stitch her lips and get her original face back. My husband and father-in-law are poor farmers and we have three children too, all in school. It is no misfortune to have a large family and many mouths to feed. In due course of time all of them will be working and earning and things should be better at that time.
Idris Ali- Helmet? What helmet? Here in the village and even on the highways we do not use anything called a helmet. We are very careful here. It is not like Kolkata city where people are careless, in a rush and do not care for the safety of others. We are very careful here and repect people walking on the roads.