Jun 7, 2023
Finding Freedom and Fulfillment: Embracing the decision to quit a government job without regrets
After working in the Nepal Police for more than 13 years, during the Maoist insurgency many men like Basudev Katwal returned to their civilian life. While facing the task of reintegration into society and finding new livelihood opportunities, pursuing foreign employment was an option Basudev had with him. In the process of pursuing this new path, agriculture was the means to make ends meet for his family. But Basudev’s life took a different direction when PIWAAI was implemented in Melamchi Municipality, Sindhupalchok; a direction towards commercialization in agriculture.
While his prestigious status as a government worker earned him the position of the chairperson of the Milanchok Farmer’s Group, his eagerness to learn new agricultural technologies and improve practice knew no boundaries. In the past two years of the project, he has received 1 plastic house with seed input of seasonal and off-seasonal vegetables generating a profit of more than Rs. 80,000 selling tomatoes, cauliflower, onion, coriander, and spinach. He adds, “This year, the municipality is supporting me with four more plastic houses, and I hope to make an annual income of more than Rs. 200,000.”
Quitting a government job may mean relinquishing stability, security, reputation, and social status, and for Basudev it was no less of a challenging decision and process. However, he says how his strong sense of purpose led him to choose other opportunities such as agriculture that aligned better with his goals and aspirations. He conveyed, “Initially, I shared the skepticism of those around me when I returned back to the village. Yet, I afforded myself the chance to prove otherwise by embracing agriculture. Today, I find freedom and fulfillment in what I do. Being with my family and in my community holds the utmost significance to me – nothing surpasses it.”
#PIWAAI #PIWAAI_Agriculture #SDG #agriculture #sustainable #plastichouses #sindhupalchok