Kerala: Women take up the oars for an island

Kasargod: Where men fail, women may succeed. This has been proved beyond doubt by a group of women at the Valiaparamb island in the district. When boatmen of the island stopped the ferry service citing shortage of kerosene to run the boat engine, the women took up the challenge. They are at the helm now and holding the oars of the boat that they have launched.

The Valiaparamb island is 24-km-long and the ferry services are the only easy means of transport for students and working people here. The Kovvai lake connects three islands, including Valiaparamb. When the boatmen stopped the services, students and others found it hard to reach schools and work places. The water transport authorities run two boats in the lake at their own timings.

When the matter was raised at the Kudumbashree, women stepped in to the scene. Instead of trying to find someone to offer boat services, the brave women rented a boat and launched the service which is available from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm every day.

When boatmen of the island stopped the ferry service citing shortage of kerosene, the women took up the challenge.

The pioneers of the service are Padmini, 60, Narayani, 63, and Karthiyani, 62. Watching them rowing itself is thrilling. Two of them row with medium oars whereas one uses a huge one to control the direction of the boat. According to Padmini, it is not a joyride in this monsoon season. “We had to somehow solve the problem, so we decided to start the service,” she said. Though the group included six women at first, there are 15 Kudumbashree workers now to run the service.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)