by Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: Life had never been easy for Pinky Devi a rural housewife. However odds of life failed to deter her spirit so far pursuing dream is concerned. The thirty year old house wife, a resident of Unchagaon village in Sultanganj block of this district always thought of providing quality education to her children and also ensuring quality life for her family members.
However poverty has been major roadblock in realizing her dream. To overcome poverty Pinky Devi a mother of four children has taken to driving e-rickshaw. Driving e-rickshaw still a relatively unconventional livelihood occupation for females particularly in rural areas, Pinky uses her e-rickshaw for transporting passengers and also for transporting vegetables.
Things have started looking up for her gradually. On an average Pinky earns more than Rs 500 per day driving e-rickshaw. Utilizing her meager fund that she had accumulated selling vegetables, Pinky had purchased e-rickshaw on installment few months back.
She says choosing a source of livelihood that is largely considered to be a male domain was not an easy decision. However to ensure her children do not have to face similar deprivation she had to face in life, Pinky says she chose an unconventional livelihood occupation.
Informing she always wanted to be properly educated, Pinky said because of poverty she had to discontinue study after studying up to Class eight. Originally a native of Mamai village under Asarganj block of Munger district, Pinky elder among four siblings had to sacrifice her dream as her family was unable to bear expenses of her education.
Subsequently married to Amarjeet Sharma of Unchagaon village in 2010 situation didn’t change much for her after marriage. Income of her husband who is a daily wage earner is hardly sufficient to make ends meet. Pinky stays with her in-laws, husband and children in a small house. She has two daughters and two sons.
Her eldest child is 10 year old. Earlier Pinky used to supplement family income selling vegetables. However her income was not up to the mark. Pinky has not discontinued selling vegetables totally. However commercial use of e-rickshaw is her main source of income at present.
Ensuring she could get her children enrolled in good private school is immediate priority of Pinky. She says seeing her children are educationally well qualified is her dream. Most of the people residing in her neighborhood are all praise for her. They say by choosing a livelihood largely considered being male domain, Pinky has become role model.
