Ishwardi June 10,(V7N)- In Ishwardi, Pabna, known as the capital of litchis, around 30,000 women are involved in the production, maintenance, and marketing of the succulent fruit during the honey season. These women, locally known as 'Lychee Kanyas,' face wage discrimination with the excuse that they "cannot climb trees."

Despite being directly involved in the litchi production process, these women work tirelessly from 7 AM to 4 PM daily, sorting litchis in various orchards. Field visits revealed that women laborers are working in every orchard.
 
These 'Lychee Kanyas' handle the tasks of picking, sorting, and counting litchis. While many farmers and traders in the litchi market see their fortunes change annually, the women directly involved in litchi production and marketing do not. Due to the inability to climb trees, they receive only half the wages compared to men.
 
Despite extensive media coverage of litchi production, marketing, and the farmers and laborers in Ishwardi, the stories of the approximately 30,000 'Lychee Kanyas' remain untold.
 
Shahida Begum, one of the 'Lychee Kanyas,' told Voice7 News, "Despite our backbreaking work, we get half the wages. No one talks about us."
 
Even with their grueling labor in the heat, the 'Lychee Kanyas' are not valued, and they are deprived of fair wages. Nevertheless, they continue to work for lower wages than men, without neglecting their duties. Despite facing wage discrimination for years, there has been no remedy. Women in areas like Diar Shahapur, Charrupur, Boraichara, and Joynagar express their grievances.
 
Jalal Uddin, a litchi farmer from Charrupur village, told Voice7 News, "During the litchi season, nearly 30,000 women actively work in litchi production in various villages of Ishwardi. These women are homemakers, school and college students, and day laborers. They earn daily wages of 300 to 400 taka for sorting and counting litchis from morning to evening, whereas male workers get 600 to 700 taka for the same work."
 
Lychee Kanya Asiya Khatun told Voice7 News, "During the litchi season, we leave household chores to work in the orchards all day to earn extra income for our families. However, compared to the high prices of goods, our labor is severely undervalued."
 
Amirul Islam, a litchi orchard owner from Maniknagar village, said, "We pay them 300 to 400 taka daily. If they could climb trees, they would be paid more."
 
Ayesha Khatun, another 'Lychee Kanya,' told Voice7 News, "Despite working all day in the litchi orchards to earn extra income, we only make 300 to 400 taka and feel disheartened. But the thought of our struggling families drives us back to the orchards the next day."
 
Rozina Khatun, a college student, told Voice7 News, "Many students like me rush to the litchi orchards after school to help their families financially. Most of us work out of necessity."
 
Lychee Kanya Shahana Khatun complained to Voice7 News, "Every year, many farmers and traders become millionaires from litchi cultivation. Yet, no one thinks about the hardworking women who make this possible. After a day of backbreaking work, we are content with just 300 to 400 taka."
 
National Agriculture Award-winning litchi farmer Abdul Jalil Kitab Mondal told Voice7 News, "Women play a leading role in sorting and counting litchis in Ishwardi. Without female workers, it would be difficult to manage litchi sorting and counting due to the scarcity of male workers."
 
Advocate Mustafizur Rahman Khan Kamal, convener of the Ishwardi Citizens Committee, told Voice7 News, "The excuse for wage discrimination against women is unacceptable. If a written complaint is made, we can take legal action. The relevant government departments should also take initiative.
 
END/V7N/SRP/DK/