Monika Parjapati

Tucked away behind the fragrant mustard fields of Kothputli, Jaipur district is Mordha village, where even today, locals refer to an airplane as “cheel gaadi”, meaning ‘eagle car.’ Nobody in the village has been on a “cheel gaadi”, except 20-year-old Monika, one of its youngest and perhaps most inspiring residents.

Daughter of a stone-layer in Mordha village, 20-year-old Monika grew up knowing she did not want to become a housewife like her mother. “I always wanted to study but knew that with our limited financial means, it would be difficult,” she says. Monika’s father was supportive of the education of his five children but his financial situation was not in his favour. After Xth Grade, Monika had to take up Humanities despite her growing interest in Science & Technology, as the village school only offered the particular stream. “If I had the option, I would have taken up Science, but that would have meant going to a private school outside my village, which was simply not an option for financial reasons,” she recalls.

Meanwhile, in 2019, soon after completing school, Monika was married off to a boy from the district. However, she continued studying while living with her parents after marriage. “The boy is also studying and building his career. Why should my daughter not study? Both can complete their education. After that, she can move to her in-laws,” says Shambhu, her father.

It was around this time that Monika met Babita, the Community Motivator from Manzil, who informed her about a range of skilling courses, that would let her upgrade her professional skills and make it easier to get a job. However, Babita’s suggestion to send Monika for further studies did not go down well with Monika’s family, especially her in-laws. She counselled Monika’s parents, convincing them of the programme’s authenticity.

Once her parents were convinced, Monika chose to pursue Software Diploma course. She flew to the Pune-based centre, where for nine months, she learned coding and computer languages.

Soon after completing the course in June 2022, Monika became an intern in the same centre at a monthly salary of Rs. 15,000 and has been working there as an employee since September. She received her first salary as a full-time employee in January this year, “It is now Rs 21,000 monthly. The first couple of months, it was Rs 15,000,” she says. She is now one of the highest-earning girls trained by Manzil.

“I’m working from home,” she says excitedly. “I don’t have to go out of the house! I can just wake up, switch on the laptop and start working,” Monika says, laughing. Very soon, she will also need to visit the Goa office and work there for a month. “I can decide when I have to go,” she says. Monika is simultaneously preparing for a government job. “I can make my own decisions now. That’s one of the perks of being financially independent,” she says.