Equality is the soul of liberty; there is, in fact, no liberty without it. – Frances Wright
31-year-old Rachana Dhaka, working for the welfare and education of the nomadic and denotified Banwaria and Banjara tribes since 2015, has become the voice of this community. Her efforts led her to become the brand ambassador of the Beti Bachao- Beti Padhao movement.
She says,
My father, Sultan Singh Dhaka, is working for the community for almost forty years. As a child, I always accompanied him in the villages, which genuinely inspired and motivated me to follow his footsteps. After I graduated from National Law University College, Lucknow, I served in the village for a long time and was able to solve many legal issues.
Being a young girl, I faced fierce resistance from the system as well as from the community. All my plea, efforts, and intention to bring justice to the nomadic community was heavily opposed.
I was disheartened. Each day I would travel to the village, which was an arduous journey itself, but I did not give up. I started teaching primary school children on the outskirts of the village. Gradually, children began learning alphabets and a few rhymes. When they recited the same at home, their parents were intrigued. It was now the turn for women to start learning. Things were falling in place, and I was building trust in the community.
Very soon, my efforts showed results, and I became the voice of the villagers. I managed to get their land rights back, tried hard to give the nomadic tribes a recognition in the society, and encouraged girls to study further.
It is a matter of pride for me that almost fifteen girls from the village have taken up law as their career and refused child marriage. The Banjara tribe is slowly moving away from the taboo of “born criminals,” the villagers are getting back their due rights, women are moving away from the Puradah pratha and children have taken the path of literacy.
Things are never to easy for a female, and we have to fight for our rights always. After marriage, there was opposition towards my working on the field. Taking into consideration my passion and desire to serve the community, I assertively laid my view, and I am thankful that without disturbing any relationships, I continued my work.
In all humility, I say that I am immensely proud of myself that I carried forward the legacy of my father in serving the community. When I see the spark of inquisitiveness in children’s eyes, women standing in confidence to claim their position in the society and the tribe progressing in positive social status, I get a sense of fulfillment.
It is a long journey ahead, but did I say I am tired?
– says Rachana
