Why should we be ashamed of what we are doing?" demands Sudama Devi. We are earning a living." In a state where women are boUght and sold like cattle, the case of this wizened woman from ChoUhka village in Bihar's Rohtas district stands out. Sudama and her companion Sushela, who belong to the chamar caste, are professional carpenters.

Nauhata, the headquarters of Nauhata bloCk, is a small, nondescript, dusty village, 20 km from Rohtas. In 1986, the Banwasi Sewa Kendra, an NGO based in Adhaura block of the same district, set up a branch in Nauhata. It worked, and still works, mostly with Women -training them in crafts like carpentry, cotton and silk weaving, spinning and wood carving, and providing employment to them.

Why carpentry? -Why not?" Counters programme executive Vidya Jaiswal. Sushela picks up the cue. -Men think that we can only cook and fetch water. But we can take up heavy jobs as well as perform fine work like Wood carving." And the range of the things they can create is fascinating -from doorposts to fancy tea trays.

The Kendra accepts orders from customers and assigns the work to the women. There is enough work to give employment to the 25-30 Women Who have been trained as carpenters So far.