Sheshamma’s life inspiration to many

Atmakur: Illiterate Sheshamma of Chelimilla village in Atmakur division has been working for nine years as a ‘hamali’ in godowns, turning out equal work as men do, even while living with self-respect and individuality and supporting six members of the family.

The six include her parents Venkatalakshmamma and Subbayya. She is helping younger sister Pushpalata study BSc computer science, who wants to join the army.

The first born, Sheshamma told The Hans India on the eve of the International Women’s Day that she believes education alone would lead to women’s uplift and financial empowerment. She is discharging her responsibility to feed the family, while working in agricultural godowns, besides taking up various tasks in fields like spraying pesticide to crops, grading mirchi, transporting grains in bullock carts.

She is able to do any work involving use of strength and force, earning Rs 200 a day in the godown for more than ten hours, even while starving. A spinster, an inspiration for many women in the village, Sheshamma’s three younger sisters are yet to get married. She is also taking care of sister, Adilakshmi, a widow, and her two children.

She hopes that once Pushpalata completes her study there would be some change in their lives. Pushpalata told The Hans India that if she can achieve her goal of securing a job in the army then she would move ahead in life confidently. She expresses a firm resolve that there is nothing a young woman can’t achieve these days.