The determined Hansa…

Although frail and diminutive in stature Hansa Ben's glowing eyes show a lot of grit and determination. Barely 25 years of age, this single parent has fought out in the a man's world- not only for her own kith and kin but for all those who wandered about; seeking help and support after the Gujarat earthquake.

“Life in Kutch has never been easy, more so in my village Singora of Anjar Taluka. Since water is a precious commodity in Gujarat, its severe scarcity has made the entire surrounding look parched and splintered,” says Hansa, who has been working tirelessly for justice with hundreds of others whose dreams came crashing down on 26 January 2001.

“The rich are attended to, even the dead rich. It is shocking. Why are the poor treated like this? Even as they look up to the doctors, the latter discriminates,” laments Hansa.

Survived by her teenage brother and her three-year-old son, her soft yet unfazed look reflects the hardships she has had to overcome. “I have to take care of my son, my brother and my mother as well,” says Hansa who desperately started looking for means of sustenance at the time when everything looked dark and lament. After all on her fragile shoulders rested hopes of her family members.

Hansa was invited to join a women's group called Ekal Nari Shakti Manch (Single Woman Unity Forum) which has been working to secure compensation and aid for these women from the government and other agencies.

“My first meeting with the group taught me how fortunate I was, as others present there were in a much worse condition. I even thought I could help as I was a little educated,” states Hansa.

Her first venture was with the Sneh Samudaya (Love-affection Cooperative) volunteers; from where she progressed to the Manch. The Manch held meetings for women, making them aware of government compensations for widows, women's rights, etc. “There are families that usurp government compensations given to widows and even torture them. We have helped alert such women by creating awareness,” says a determined Hansa whose dreams to get compensation for those who need it most. In addition the organisation has also formed a Lok Adhikar Manch or the People's Rights Forum to check proper distribution of the fund distributed to the quake victims.