New Delhi, May 20
Feisty Kiran, who is mentioned in the NCERT maths textbook for class IV, is a role model for women in her neighbourhood in Patna. The reason? She is a junk dealer who once slapped a man for misbehaving and today enjoys the grudging respect of her male counterparts for her professionalism and straightforward attitude.
Married off at the tender age of 14, she found herself helping at her in-laws' modest tea-stall and struggling to make ends meet.
She got the idea of opening her own recycling yard when she realised that empty milk packets and other such waste could be sold for profits.
"I took a loan of Rs 14,000 from the Nidaan organisation to begin my business. The first two months were very tough," said Kiran, who was in the capital recently at the launch of a
campaign to promote literacy among women.
She admitted that she was often on the verge of tears as buyers offered low rates or threatened to go to other junk dealers.
However, encouraged and supported by her in-laws and husband, she refused to give up and today enjoys the support of her community and neighbourhood.
"I earn well. So now I also sell firewood to poor women at low rates. I make and sell dung cakes also. During the wedding season, I sell saris. I also help other women get loans from Nidaan
to start businesses," she said, elaborating on her business.
"If anybody ever bothers us,
