/> “I want to work in Amrapari as long as I am capable of working.” says Juhura Khatun(50), a resident of Rupakuchi, Barpeta, Assam.
Juhura Khatun was married off at the tender age of 13 due to the financial conditions of her family. After five years of marriage, her husband became mentally unstable. Having no one to earn for livelihood, her mother brought her back home. She had two sons from her marriage. Unfortunately, she lost one of them. She had the responsibility of looking after her ailing mother and her only child. Her elder brothers didn’t take her back nor provided her with assistance. For ten years she did labour work on construction sites. She remarried and had a son from her second marriage. Things were going fine for a while as she had a partner to share her burden with. But destiny had other plans for her. She lost her husband Jahur Ali. Being broken with another reality she still stood firm with hope. Khatun went to Guwahati and started working in construction sites again. The most difficult phase of her life started when the lockdown happened. Homebound and helpless, Juhura said the period was like a nightmare that they survived. There were days when they had to save for just one meal a day. And other days went starving. Their homes too being swept away by the river currents, they somehow managed to build a shed for them. Amrapari, she says, entered as a big relief in her life. Now, Juhura Khatun works everyday from the comfort of her home and supports her family. Although she couldn’t educate her eldest son, she mentions with delight that her younger son studied till 12th, and is now searching for work in places. Juhura Khatun lives with her mother, eldest son, daughter-in-law and three grand-daughters. She is keen on educating her grand daughters. For this, she especially shows her gratitude towards Amrapari’s education program ‘Super 30’ which educates students from financially backward families.
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