23rd January 2019, Kolkata – Social activities are spreading like forest fire but ‘Tahader Kotha’ stands different by honoring 11 women from diverse fields. Some work as a domestic help in houses while some sell flowers. There were idol makers, tea seller to cook, fields are many but stories remain the same. The initiative is taken by Mimi Das, State President of NHRO (Women’s Cell) and Sneha Chakraborty, actor and model and also the Vice President of NHRO women’s cell Bidhannagar.
The event was graced by the Hon’ble Minister of Women and Child Welfare, Dr Sashi Panja; Baishali Dalmiya, M.L.A. of Bally; Upal Sengupta, singer; Sushil Kothari, owner of Sakshi and President of NHRO; Anil Malawat, Director of AMRI hospital; Samraggi Mukherjee, Vice President NHRO women cell and many others.
The tales of 11 toiling women were heard amidst the busy schedule of daily life. They were honored with a memento, saree, shawl, and sweets.
Urmila Halder says, “This is my first time in such a restaurant and I am really overwhelmed. I never thought I will get such type of opportunity.”
The tales differ like – Madhobi Singh, a domestic help who has been in this field since she was 14 years, earned money and saved it to build her house. Husband being a drunkard she was left with the only option of working as domestic help to maintain her family. She educated 3 sons and her only daughter enabling them to stand on their feet. On the other hand, Mala Pal is an idol maker who was criticized by the society for being a girl trying to cross her limits by attempting to make a place in the male-dominated industry. Kalpana Baroi with her one hand has been into stitching profession earning the livelihood and educating her only son.
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“Tahader Kotha is a way of saluting the women who work hard to manage our lives so that we can work for the society or yourself. They are the backbone of our daily life.” says Mimi Das, State President of NHRO (Women’s Cell) and a social worker.
Sneha Chakraborty expresses her happiness of initiating the event with ‘Tahader Kotha’ , “I am really happy the way the women have come out here. Their stories and the way they expressed themselves are really heart touching. They are so compassionate that they even asked if I had my meal or not.”
