With grit and strength equal to any man, Muna Ghimire Shrestha takes everyone’s breath away when she climbs into a monstrous excavator and levels the ground.
Muna was just 16 when she first pulled the gears of such heavy machinery and has continued to do so for the last 15 years. [break]
“I started as an assistant excavator driver when I was 16 and as of now I have taught 25 others interested in following this occupation,” says Muna. “Since no other women were working in this field, I wanted to prove that even a female can handle this job with ease, and I think I have made my point.”
Shrestha, who is originally from Garmi VDC in Chitwan, shifted to Borlang VDC after tying the knot with Surendra Shrestha. She was 11 when she got married. Her husband, who was working as a manager at Saptagandaki Enterprises, now accompanies his wife at work as he himself is a full-time excavator operator.
“If we get regular contracts, we earn more than Rs. 50,000 a month,” Muna says.
But it wasn’t easy for Muna to get this job, as locals didn’t believe her that she could ride an excavator. “People didn’t believe me in the beginning but over time, I gained their trust,” quips Muna.
Today, she feels proud that she doesn’t have to search for contracts, they come to her.
“Women are equally capable of making a good living in this field if they are brave enough to start the engine,” says Muna with confidence, and vows to inspire and train more women in this occupation.
This gritty woman has definitely made her mark and proved that women are no more the weaker sex.
By Narahari Sapkota
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