My decision to work in the sanitation sector was caused by many different factors. Since I lost my parents at an early age, I could not invest the necessary time and resources into my education but was forced to start working early on. My primary goal was to ensure that at least my children would be able to go to school, so I searched for a job with an adequate salary to make this possible. Given my limited literacy, the career options were scarce. Ultimately I chose to work as a mason, which is a comparatively well-paid profession. I have undergone training in construction of toilets and standard containment structures.

From the very beginning of my career, I had to face several barriers hindering my aspiration to work in this position. Many men were reluctant to teach me the necessary skills, even my husband who is himself a mason. Due to the help of a kind engineer who came forward to teach me the basics, I managed to build the necessary capacity. Unfortunately, despite my skills and qualifications some of my male subordinates clearly showed their resentment for having to work under a female leader. Another recurring reason for people to discourage me was the belief that women would not be able to climb heights, which is needed for some tasks in construction. This misconception is due to the traditional attire, the saree, which proved impractical for certain tasks.

To all the women aspiring to enter this sector, I have a message: There is no gender disparity in the work we are capable of. If we acquire the necessary skills and are willing to adapt to the demands of our profession, we will be able to excel in what we do.  I am proof of this as I now earn a better wage than many male masons due to the quality of my work.