Most women in the rural backwaters of the district do the same. They collect firewood from the jungle in the morning and sell it in the market in the afternoon. This not only helps them to earn their daily bread but also pay for their children´s education.
“Were it not for the jungles, we couldn´t have sent our wards to school,” said Binda Damai of Bhaliya in Amargadhi. Scores of women trading firewood make a regular spectacle in this district headquarters.
“Around 100 firewood vendors gather here in morning and evening almost everyday,” said Dan Bahadur Saud, who runs a lodge. With the winter getting bitter, hotels, restaurants and even residents here have started using firewood in kitchen and hearth. As a result firewood-sellers are doing brisk business. For some, this is the only means to eke a living. “Selling firewood is the only source of our income,” said Bishna Damai. Others have known to have made it big in the trade.
“Some of our friends have earned enough to build good houses,” said Tara Devi Damai. She laments though that she couldn´t save as much.
While community-run jungles are not easily accessible to them, they even set out to Mahabharat hills walking for hours to collect firewood. “We have to work harder as we have to walk long distances to collect firewood,” said Bina Damai.
Suresh Joshi, principal of Mountain Multiple Campus, praises hard-working women for their concern over their children´s education. “Others should learn from them,” he added.
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