A girl’s foray into horse carriage business

Our Correspondent,Baitadi, Feb. 9: Baitadi’s Pooja Awasthi is breaching the belief that girls should not be managing horses by funding her education through horse riding. 

Pooja, who comes from Sunarya Rural Municipality–6, takes her horse every morning, evening and on holidays to transport daily goods from the marketplace to the rural areas.

A student of 12th grade in the local Mulakhtali High School, Pooja does not have to rely on anyone for her educational expenses and is capable on her own.  Her daily income by riding horses ranges from 500 to 1000 Nepali rupees.

Back in her village, she operated a small grocery shop aiding her family’s finances which she handed over to her parents. Her study and horse business go hand in hand to support the family financially. 

Advance booking of the horses is required for transporting goods to the village. The demand for horses remains high despite the construction of unpaved roads as the transportation is infrequent. Gender discrimination against women has not hindered her work, shared Pooja recalling her own experience.  “No work can be small, big or is ascribed to a certain caste or gender,” she said. “I started the business to establish the notion that women are capable of doing the same work as men. There is good income in this profession and my family is also happy.”

Pooja Awasthi is now 16 years old. Along with her studies, she facilitates the everyday life of villagers by transporting goods with the horse every day for four hours.

Pooja, who comes from an ordinary household, has drawn both praise and slander for her courage, she said. She said what the society says about her is not a big deal to her as there are more praises than criticisms and it keeps her going.  Her friends have also started horse carriage business. 

Suresh Awasthi, a local media person, said that Pooja’s work has served as an inspiration and example to Baitadi’s society. 

It has established the notion that women can easily do the work as men in the society, he added.