NEPALGUNJ, March 8: Maimuna Siddiqui has been advocating the empowerment of Muslim and Madhesi women for more than two decades.
"With continuous effort, I've been successful in empowering Muslim and Madhesi women. Yet, there is much that remains to be done," Siddiqui told Republica. Despite various challenges, she has not been deterred from her crusade.Siddiqui is chairperson of Fatima Foundation Nepal, a social organization based in Banke district that is working for women's rights and empowerment.
"As an educated woman, I believe I must do something to transform the lives of women in my community," said Siddiqui, who has a master's degree.
In the beginning, her work focused on the empowerment of economically weak women from the Muslim and Madhesi communities through training in tailoring.
"In 2052 BS, I was a trainer at a tailoring center," she recalled. She helped some 1,000 women become economically self-reliant through tailoring, she said.
Some of the women who received the training are now working as trainers themsleves, she added.
In 2061 BS, her elder sister Mohamadi Siddiqui founded the Fatima Foundation and she got the opportunity to serve the organization.
"After I joined the social organization, I switched to advocacy for women rights," she said. She also remained active in helping Muslim and Madhesi women secure their human rights.
Working against social evils and gender violence was not so easy for a woman from the Muslim community. But she never gave up.
"My mother-in-law used to press me to quit what I was doing. But my husband always supported my work," she said. Had her husband not encouraged her, she would not have come so far.
Some families still do not send their women and girls out of the house. But continuous awareness activities, including Siddiqui's efforts, have significantly contributed to breaking this social taboo.
A decade ago, there used to be a lot of problems that affected Muslim and Madhesi women, although they hardly ever spoke about it frankly. Women and girls used to be deprived of their rights to education and property, among other things. She persuaded the Muslim communities to ensure equal rights to education and property for their womenfolk, she told Republica, adding that this was one of the big achievements of her life.
Maimuna still remembers how in the beginning she used to face challenges, threats and intimidation. "Those who stood against me have now turned positive toward me and my organization. They have now become helping hands," she added.
Through Fatima Foundation, Siddiqui has been leading 62 groups of Madhesi and Muslim women across the district. She helps the groups become economically self-reliant.
Currently, she receives appreciation from those involved in different rights-based and social organizations for her significant contribution to bringing change in the lives of women, especially from the Madhesi and Muslim communities.
Siddiqui now feels more determined than ever to continue her work for the betterment of women in her community.
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