After her father, father-in-law and husband died by suicide due to the burden of agricultural debt, this 45-year-old mother from Ralla village in Mansa district has dedicated her life to empower those facing similar hardships.
Amidst Punjab’s golden fields of wheat lies a tale of profound loss and unwavering resolve personified by Veerpal Kaur — a 45-year-old mother of two from Ralla village in Mansa district.
For Veerpal, the path of adversity began with the loss of her loved ones. Early in her life, she bade farewell to her father, father-in-law and husband, all victims of the burden of debt that plagues Punjab’s farming community. Their deaths, shrouded in the darkness of financial despair, left Veerpal to shoulder the responsibility of two young children (daughter Diljot and son Abhishek) alone.
“Eight years after my father’s death, my husband Dharamvir Singh burned himself to death at the age of 28 in 2003. My father-in-law had also passed away in 1990. All of them died by suicide,” Veerpal said, spoking in a matter-of-fact tone, forged by years of hardship.
In the aftermath of grief, Veerpal sought solace in her paternal home in Ralla. Yet, amidst the collective embrace of her village, she found herself grappling with the harsh reality of neglect from government authorities. Despite her efforts, protests and appeals to political leaders, the promises of aid remained but hollow echoes of false hope.
However, Veerpal found a glimmer of purpose somehow. In 2017, she recognised that the battle for change extended beyond mere protests — it demanded action, policy reforms and grassroots awareness. Determined to be the catalyst for change, she embarked on a journey to empower women, one doorstep at a time.
As an anganwadi helper, she earns a stipend of Rs 3,000. Determined to supplement her income, she uses her spare time to sell bangles.
Veerpal established the Kisan Mazdoor Khudkhushi Pidit Parivar committee to actively aid families in seven Punjab districts. They make groups in Mansa, Sangrur, Bathinda, Patiala, Moga, Barnala and Faridkot districts. With support from social organisations, the committee has educated about 300 children and provided housing to the homeless. They have secured around Rs 3 lakh in financial assistance for nearly 85 struggling families.
“I now want to dedicate my life to those facing hardships similar to mine. My journey has been one of resilience, and I feel a deep commitment to stand alongside individuals enduring difficult circumstances like mine,” she said.
Armed with knowledge of government policies and administrative procedures, Veerpal has become the voice of the voiceless, advocating for the rights of widows and marginalised communities. Together with her fellow women, she navigated the bureaucratic labyrinth, demanding justice, dignity and access to essential services such as widow pensions and ration cards.
In the face of adversity, Veerpal found strength in unity. Through collective action and solidarity, their spirit of sisterhood defied the odds and illuminated a path towards a brighter future.
Nirmal Singh faced tragic loss when his 24-year-old son took his own life due to debts. Battling cancer himself, Nirmal found solace struggling for justice. Despite bureaucratic hurdles initially, he joined the Kisan Mazdoor Khudkhushi Pidit Parivar committee. Persistently, they secured Rs 3 lakh as financial aid for Nirmal’s family after initial government rejection thrice.
“No one understood our pain – neither the villagers nor relatives. But the committee provided immense support, helping with financial assistance and cancer treatment,” Nirmal stated.
Murti Kaur, belonging to a family of labourers in Mansa’s Jhunir village, lost her husband and son to suicide due to financial problems. As her daughter-in-law remarried, Murati took on the responsibility of caring for her young grandchildren. Despite being 80-year-old, she worked, cleaning floors to make ends meet and living under a tarpaulin with no proper shelter. After she joined the committee, social service organisations came together to build a home for this elderly widow and her orphaned grandchildren, providing them with a stable and safe environment.
Murti Kaur shared, “Managing a household at this age is challenging, but with the support of committee members, this difficulty has become easier. Life tastes sweeter when you see it overcome challenges.”
Many other families in the community have benefited from the financial and emotional support provided by the committee, demonstrating the wider reach of their assistance.
Despite the daily struggles of earning a livelihood through manual labour and selling bangles, Veerpal’s commitment to her children’s education remained steadfast. Her daughter, Diljot, graduated from Punjabi University, Patiala. She has fulfilled her mother’s dream, becoming a lawyer dedicated to upholding justice and championing the rights of the marginalised.
Her son, Abhishek, has graduated and now holds a position in the Market Committee office.
In a small corner of Punjab, Veerpal’s story serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope prevails, and the human spirit endures.
The lead image on top shows Veerpal Kaur with her daughter Diljot. (Photo by Kiranjit Kaur Jhunir)
Kiranjit Kaur is a Village Square Fellow ’23. She works as an independent journalist in Punjab.
