”Now, I have become self-employed with my hair cutting skills and have also made others self-employed. So far, I have taught more than 15 people how to cut hair. It gives me satisfaction to see students who were previously unemployed become self-employed in this field using the skills I have taught them.”
What you should know
Earlier, I did not know any skills. That is why I used to go to India to work as a laborer. Wherever I went in Nepal and India, I could not find any work other than that. I had no skills or education. If I did not know how to work, where could I find it? At that time, it was difficult to find employment in the villages.
At that time, the only place to go to earn money nearby was India. Many people like me used to go to India. I also used to come and go to India to work as a laborer. Ever since I learned to cut hair, I have been happily earning money in my own place.
It has been 16 years since I started operating Chaudhary Hair Cutting in Orali Bazaar, Madhuvan Municipality-3. After learning the skill, I no longer have to go to India to work as a laborer like before. I am now 34 years old. I have a house in Khata village, Madhuvan Municipality-3. Due to the poor financial situation of the family, I was only able to study up to grade 8. After that, the responsibility of managing the house fell on my shoulders. I could not find any work in my own place to fulfill that responsibility. Even when going to work in India, the importance of the person who has learned the skill is different. I learned a lot from that too.
When I returned home after working in India, I came to know that the Terai Geo-Environment and Conservation Program, Kohalpur, was going to provide free skill-based training in Orali for the unemployed youth of the Khata Biological Route area through the Khata Community Forest Coordination Committee. I made a plan to take the skill-based training that was going to be conducted in my own place.
In 2066 BS, I had taken a two-month hair cutting training conducted in Orali by the Khata Community Forest Coordination Committee. After the training, I started cutting hair in Orali Bazaar. I am continuing the skills I learned till now.
It has been 16 years since I started operating Chaudhary Hair Cutting in Orali Bazaar, Madhuvan Municipality-3. After learning the skill, I no longer have to go to India to work as a laborer. I am earning a good income by living with my family. Earlier, I used to be worried about conservation when wild animals roaming through the organic route damaged the crops in the fields. Conservation has created both challenges and opportunities. Due to conservation, many unemployed youths like me in this area have found employment in their own places.
Now, I have become self-employed with my hair cutting skills and have made others self-employed. So far, I have taught more than 15 people to cut hair. Seeing my previously unemployed wandering disciples become self-employed in this area using the skills I taught gives me self-satisfaction. The production of the little land we have is not enough to eat throughout the year. My parents, children and I are a family of 6, including my husband and wife. My 14-year-old son is in grade 9 and my 7-year-old daughter is in grade 2. While working at my own place, I have been able to take good care of my family members. I am taking care of my children in the evening and morning.
Similarly, in my free time in the evening and morning, I am also helping in the vegetable garden. I earn up to 35 thousand per month by cutting hair. In which I pay 2 thousand 500 per month for the shop's rent including electricity. Some expenses are spent on rice, lentils, salt, oil, sugar, soap and clothes. Even though I cannot earn much by living with my own family, I am happily educating my children. With this income, I am fulfilling every need of my family.
Presented by: Ram Prasad Chauhan
Published in the Household Expenses column Also read other materials
