OJT program transforming lives – A Story of Babulal Yogi

- Rikesh Maharjan, Social Development Officer

Mobile Team – Malu, Dolakha

It has been around four months since Babulal Yogi successfully completed 50 days OJT program. A permanent resident of Jogigau-Malu; Babulal was born and raised in a family of four - a differently able father, mother and a brother –  has completed the 50 days training and now works at skilled mason. He has a long story to receive a earthquake resistant home and enhance him as a skill mason.

Alongside the two brothers were their childhood friends; Dinesh Yogi, Dipendra Yogi and Deepak Yogi. They grew together in the same neighborhood, played and surely built many toy mud houses too. But at their present age, they have actually completed the construction of a two room mud mortar house with 3 feet attic height above lintel band with CGI sheet roof.

Post-Earthquake, the brothers were in a dilemma of when and how to reconstruct their house. Babulal shares in his words, "The first tremor didn’t completely destroy our house. The second one did. Post-earthquake, our family resided in a temporary shelter; you can call it a cow-shed. We lived there for around two months. Later, we constructed a better temporary shelter in which we have been living till date. We plan to move in to the new house after finding a suitable day and completing the puja."

The relief received by the family was limited to food supplies and other materials such as tarps that fulfilled immediate needs post disaster. The family awaited a much better help to reconstruct their house and that’s how NSET-Baliyo ghar team met Babulal and his family. The ward meeting held at Jogigau on November 14, 2017 to select the house owner for OJT unanimously recommended and selected his house. The family belonging to disadvantage group and also economically poor fulfilled the requirement. They immediately met the Malu ward chairperson, Mr. Hom Bahadur Shrestha; who without any delay provided the recommendation and the support the family required. Likewise, the participants of the OJT also the friends of Babulal agreed on helping to rebuild the house by becoming the participating trainee masons of the 50 days On the Job training. 

Mr. Dhan bahadur Sarki, the lead mason of the OJT shares his experience and happiness in his words as, "To be honestly speaking sir, I had no trust in the boys about constructing the house. Thus, for me it was a big challenge. I would have rather built the whole house all by self but as it was training and being a lead mason i had to take the responsibility. It was difficult at the beginning but eventually we got along and the boys did really well in learning and constructing the house in a resilient way." He also asked the boys to go along with him in other sites to work but the boys had different plans. Babulal and Baburam went on to build other houses forming their own teams; Babulal shares," I was very happy and delighted the moment when I held sixteen thousand in cash after working in someone else's house". As for Dinesh and Dipendra also brothers, went on to build a separate kitchen for their house. After building few houses the boys now are engaged in doing household works; mainly agriculture. As the major reconstruction work which was at peak has recently narrowed down. Nevertheless, they look forward to build more houses in days to come. 

"The boys went under a transformation" says, Mr. Bijaya Kumar Baruwal, social development officer of Local Reconstruction Technical Centre, Malu – The field office setup to implement the "Baliyoghar" program at five VDCs of Tamakoshi Rural Municipality. Mr. Baruwal was one of the first to meet the boys, interact and orient them about the whole program. He further adds upon his initial experience with the boys as," During the introductory session, the boys took most of the time to laugh and giggle. My primary perception about them was discomforting and of discontent. I really doubted in their level of concentration for the days ahead". He now laughs and cherishes at those experiences of false conviction and displeasure and points out on how the group of boys proved his initial thoughts wrong. As he had closely observed the 50 days training program, he assures the rest as, the boys really did convinced themselves and the others on and about the fact that – one can actually succeed with hard work, determination and do something meaningful after the completion of program.

Of all and everyone benefited from this OJT program, one individual, the happiest of all is Mrs. Beli Maya Yogi. A supporting wife of Mr. Ananath yogi and a loving mother of Babulal and Baburam; She had been an integral part of the program. She was not a trainee participant but was involved in the process more than anyone. Always present in the training, preparing meals for everyone, directing the boys to work properly and carefully, negotiating with suppliers and so on. She and her husband were the motivation for Babulal and Baburam to work hard; to support their parents by building the house. All in all Mrs. Beli Maya had been a person of full support to the program and the NSET-Baliyoghar Staffs. 

The 50 days training for Babulal has proved to be more than just training. A transforming process through which he has been able to gain enduring skills and a house in which he along with his brother and parents will live safely here after. As for the work, they seek houses to build.

In Malu, 188 new house owners are soon to complete their agreement as the new list of grievances is out. This surely brings out more opportunity for the likes of Babulal and his friends. At present, they stay idle as the pace of reconstruction has descended.  Baburam and others have temporarily moved out of village to work. But as of Baburam, he awaits for the opportunity to work; hone his skills and build safer, earthquake resilient houses at Malu.

The 'On the Job training' is initiated and implemented by NSET- Baliyo ghar program supported by USAID in coordination with local government here in Malu of Tamakoshi rural municipality, Dolakha.