Sonali Neye: Public Heath Champion

Women Livelihood
By Savvy Soumya Misra
02 Mar, 2023

Sonali Neye is our public health champion from Bipradaspur village in Gosaba block in South 24 Parganas. But she stands out also because she is the only woman Toto (e-rickshaw) driver in her village. She never misses an opportunity to talk about public health and hygiene to women and adolescent girls who ride her Toto. She plans to keep sanitary napkins in her e-rickshaw to make it accessible to menstruating women and girls.

Thirty-four year old Sonali Neye is from Bipradaspur. Her husband owned a power tiller and earned about Rs 15,000 a month. But in 2021 her husband fell very ill due to chronic respiratory disease. She sold her jewellery and his power tiller to meet the medical expenses.

With nothing left to meet the expenses of the family, Sonali knew she had to do something to ensure that her children don’t die of hunger. So she took a loan from her family members and bought a Toto or an e-rickshaw and learnt to drive it. She is able to now earn about Rs 9,000 a month. Not only is she is running the family on her own, she is ensuring proper treatment for her husband and is also ensuring that her children—daughter in class VIII and son in class IV—attend school.

“As part of the Microsoft project, we were conducting WASH trainings and sessions on safe hygiene practices with the women in these villages. Sonali is one of them. We provided hygiene kits along with awareness on safe hygiene practices,” said Snehamoy Mondal, field supervisor.

During the trainings she was encouraged and motivated to talk to her passengers—women and girls—about public health. “We are also planning to keep sanitary napkins in her Toto which she will provide to menstruating women and adolescent girls if they need it,”added Snehamoy.

Microsoft India is working with Oxfam India in 3 villages in Gosaba block in S 24 Parganas in West Bengal. The project works with SHGs and schools. We are reaching out 212 women and 600 girls in 3 schools.

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