A video of a RJ reading news while her child breast feeds goes viral
Dadeldhura: A video of a radio journalist from Dadeldhura has gone viral after she posted a TikTok video of her child breast feeding while she is reading news. Many women are made to believe that after getting married or after childbirth it's quite difficult for a woman to manage her work life. Due to this notion, several women in Sudurpaschim seldom quit their jobs after getting married or giving birth. But, Mamata Bhatta did not let anything get in the way of her profession. Mamata Bhatta grew up in a small village in Baitadi and had never used a computer before.
She knew little about technology overall. She learnt to use a computer after joining a radio station in 2069, the radio had open vacancies for 5 positions and 25 people had applied.
She had applied for the position of receptionist. She was selected along with 5 people for the second round and was hired as a receptionist after clearing her interview. She had recently completed her high school and joined the Siksha Campus for her bachelor's. She was very fond of listening to the radio and seldom called RJ's conducting talk shows when she lived in Baitadi.
She dreamt about being an RJ and a media person someday. However, she was unable to anticipate the hard work and skills required to be a media person in a district. While working at the reception she garnered knowledge about journalism and computers and eventually joined the Radio as a reporter. She developed her skills as a technician and slowly bagged a radio talk show called Mahila Ko awaz (voice of women) sponsored by Mahila Tatha Bikas Kendra. A total of 24 people were trained for the show but only 12 were finally chosen to host it. Seven people from Dadeldhura participated in the training held at Kavrepalanchok, that was the first time she was travelling such a long distance but she was determined and eventually bagged the show from her district.
However, a person working in a media house in a district has many responsibilities, hence her job entails reporting, editing, writing stories, news reading and hosting various shows sponsored by NGOs. Being associated with media houses outside give her a different perspective and helped her in remaining motivated towards bettering the local media. She has also received an award from CIN for her services in the community radio sector. She has been married for 4 years now and has a 2-year-old daughter. "Most girls in my village marry very young I got married when I was 25 or 26, that's considered very late in my village," said Mamata. According to Mamta, she was pregnant when the news of the Coronavirus pandemic first appeared.
"I would go to my office and read the news regarding the outbreak. Numerous reports that I read entailed information about how the virus is dangerous for senior citizens and pregnant women but I continued to give my services as it was a difficult time and I felt it my responsibility to do whatever I could to help my colleagues. Therefore, we sent our outstation colleagues to their hometown and the ones who lived in Amargardi municipality continued working, said Mamata. " Mamata worked throughout her gestation and rested for 45 days after childbirth before resuming her duties.
"I felt acute pain one day and informed my management that I would take rest but fortunately I went into labour the very next day." Mamata usually takes her child to her office as her husband lives in a different town for work. Mamta believes that her family and husband have been very supportive of her dreams and aspirations. Mamata is a radio journalist as well as a program coordinator at Amargadhi radio in Dadeldhura which is mostly run by women. While many women are pressurized to quit work after marriage and pregnancy. Mamata continued to work towards fulfilling her dreams.
It was also possible due to the support of her family and her organisation. But, Mamata's story proves that women are capable of attaining their goals if they have the support of their families and organisation. Each one needs a motivating ecosystem to perform well and women can work as efficiently as they did before marriage if their family members support and motivate them.
