Meet Geeta Ji: The Optimist
Who is this beautiful lady?
Geeta ji has been working with Swara from the very beginning, and mainly takes care of cutting pieces of cloth for other tailors. Geeta ji is quite shy and sweet and is affectionately called ‘Rani’ by the women at Swara. Originally from Udaipur, Rajasthan, Geeta ji today lives in Dungarpur with her husband and fourteen-year-old son. Even though she doesn’t get many opportunities to go to her village in Udaipur, she speaks very highly of the place and its beauty. Geeta ji also tells us about her best friend, Kiran, who lives back in Udaipur and whom she has not spoken to or met in a year. She misses her home, her friend and her village dearly. In her free time, you may find her cooking or sewing.
Geeta ji has studied up until the first-year of college, around which time her son, Harshu, came along. As the burden of housework increased and she dropped out of her studies. She hasn’t had any income generation opportunities till Swara. After getting to know about the work and learning new skills from Swara’s cluster head Neelam ji, she has warmed up to the idea and enjoys herself and earns her own income.
How did she deal with the pandemic?
Geeta ji’s son left home to live with his aunt and attend online classes. Her husband is a mill worker whose daily income suffered dearly during the pandemic, due to the closure of mills. She says that the lockdowns were particularly difficult for her for a number of reasons. Apart from the loss of income, her husband got into a road accident and fractured his hand, compelling him to take bed rest for three months. “Corona ki sthiti bohot kharaab thi, bohot mushkil hui, ab yahi ummeed hai ki bas ye saal acha guzre” (Corona’s time was very trying, had to face a lot of difficulties, I am hoping this year to be better). Despite the hardships, Geeta ji has a positive outlook for the time to come, a trait shared by all Swara Women!. She says, “Lag raha hai acha rahega. Jitna kaam kareinge, utne acha hoga” (It seems like all will be good. The more I can work, the better it will be)!
