Bijula BK from Sangbale Hayutar in Kamalamai Municipality-4, Sindhuli, is a popular female mason for reconstructing houses damaged by the 2015 earthquakes in the district. 

 

A year ago in February Bijula took a 50-day masonry training provided by Skills for Safe Reconstruction Project, a Swiss project. Ever since, she has been busy working from 6:00am to 7:00pm. She has constructed 15 houses till date. 

 

She is fully satisfied with her job, she says. “Before I joined the training, a large number of people said a woman was not capable of building a house. Many people tried to discourage me. I didn't listen to anybody and went ahead and received the training. Now, I am as busy as a male counterpart. I am happy now,” said an elated Bijula.

 

She said after the training her perspective had changed. “Now I think that both men and women are equally capable of performing any task,” said Bijula. She has become a radical model challenging traditional taboos against women.

 

She is glad these days as people have started admiring her skills and devotion towards her profession. “Many contractors visit my home with requests to work with them. I am happy when I find many landlords trusting and praising my work,” said she. Bijula has been running a four-member family with Rs 20-25 thousand monthly income. 

 

Likewise, another woman mason Bishnu Kumari Majhi is also quite busy reconstructing houses. Majhi is a resident of Chhap, Marin Rural Municipality-4 in the district. She too had taken masonry training and does masonry work with her husband Som Bahadur. 

 

She said working with her hubby was easy for her. The couple is known as mason couple in the village. A good sum of money from masonry work has made their lives comfortable. They have also been able to afford their children's education. 

 

Similarly, Shashi Magar, 51, of the locality, also earns her living from masonry. She takes care of her children's education and looks after her husband, who is suffering from paralysis.