DHANUSHADHAM, Nepal — In the Madhesh province of southern Nepal, where social norms often dictate that women remain confined to household roles, 35-year-old Amrita Kumari is challenging traditional gender barriers. After a decade of labor in the Middle East, Kumari returned to her home in Dhanushadham Municipality-6 to pursue a career as a professional house painter, a trade traditionally reserved for men in her community.
Kumari has completed the vocational painting course under the Skills Project in 2022. The transition represents a significant shift for the migrant worker, who spent ten years in Oman—four years in housekeeping and six years in a supermarket—to save for her family’s future.
Breaking Social Barriers
The decision to enter the construction trades was met with mixed reactions in her village, where the Kushwaha and Yadav communities are predominant. According to local accounts, many women in the area still observe traditional customs such as wearing the ghunghat (veil), avoiding speaking the names of their husbands, and refraining from talking to men outside their families.
"In the Terai, painting is done by men," Kumari said. "There is a perception that painting is not a woman's job. Because of this, some people in the village are not satisfied that I have taken this training."
Despite the social friction, Kumari remains committed to her career path. "Work is not small or big. It is not light or heavy," she stated. "A woman of the 21st century must be able to do heavy work side-by-side with men. I have worked hard abroad for 10 years. I know the value of work and the income derived from it. Women can do the work that men do. Work is not specifically designated for men or women."
A Migrant’s Journey
Kumari’s path to the construction sector began with a long-distance romance. Originally from Butwal, Rupandehi, where she studied up to the eighth grade, she met her husband, Ram Sundar Mahato, while both were working abroad. Kumari was stationed in Oman while Mahato was working in Qatar.
The couple, who come from different castes, conducted their relationship entirely over the telephone before meeting in person upon their return to Nepal. They married three years ago.
During her ten years in the city of Salalah, Oman, Kumari saved approximately 2 million rupees. These savings allowed the couple to purchase two residential plots. However, the lack of sustainable local income eventually forced Mahato to return to Qatar for employment.
The Move Toward Domestic Stability
Kumari’s entry into the painting trade is part of a broader strategy to end the cycle of foreign labor that separates many Nepali families. While foreign employment offers lump-sum payments, Kumari noted that the money often depletes quickly upon returning home due to daily living expenses.
"I have had enough of employment in the Gulf," Kumari said. "After my husband returns from abroad, he and I will move forward with a painting contract business together."
She noted that having formal training has significantly boosted her confidence compared to when she first left for foreign employment without any specific skills. Her grandmother-in-law, Udghari, expressed support for the initiative, noting that she is tired of seeing the younger generation constantly leave for the Gulf.
"I am happy that my granddaughter-in-law has taken painter training and plans to work in the village," Udghari said. "Let them make a living by staying in their own village. Why should they have to go to the Gulf?"
Future Outlook
The demand for Kumari’s new skills began to manifest when she received her first professional proposal to paint the house of her neighbor, Shyam Sundar Mahato.
Kumari involved others who took the training alongside her to complete the project. By establishing a permanent trade in Dhanushadham, she aims to prove that domestic labor can provide the stability that foreign employment lacks.
"I have made a plan to search for stability," she said. "My mindset is not to go abroad at all. The plan is to work in the country and spend my sweat in my own land."
