ACHHAM, May 16 -- Kala Dhami of Mangalsain Municipality-13, Achham, was all set to lead a consumers' committee of a local drinking water project. Discussions had been held among locals twice regarding the formation of the committee and the selection of a suitable leader for the committee. Finally, a consensus was reached: Kala would be the chief of the committee.
However, this unanimous decision was altered overnight. Those who had consented to choose Kala as the chairperson of the consumer committee withdrew their support. "The decision was changed overnight. The villagers, mostly men, said that a woman would not be able to lead a drinking water project worth Rs300,000.
They offered me the treasurer's post instead. That was when I realis...