Mysuru: It is women power today, in spite of atrocities against them on the rise. The Women’s Reservation Bill for empowerment is still in the backburner. However, times are changing and slowly she is no way inferior to man, as she breaking new grounds, joining the army, driving buses, landing in space. It is heart-warming to see women from rural areas working in malls, hotels, beauty parlours and the list is endless.

She is now breaching almost every male bastion and one of the examples in our own city is that of Geetha Mani. She is a butcher assisting her father in running a mutton stall from a young age. The Kempegowda Mutton Stall, named after her father, is located near Surya Bakery Circle in Hebbal.

Geetha, 35, is married for about 18 years to Puttaswamy and since she believes in the dignity of labour, she  is proud of the work she is doing. Every day she attends the shop and butchers sheep or goat meat depending on the demand of the customers. She herself slaughters the sheep, separates the different parts like head, legs, rib, sirloin, boti, cleans them and sells.

She hails originally from K. Mallenahalli near Chinnakurli in K.R. Pet taluk. Her father Kempegowda purchases live goat or sheep from Pandavapura, Katteri, Harohalli and surrounding places in Mysuru district and herds them in a godown. Depending on the demand, the sheep are slaughtered and sold.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, she said, “I am very proud of what I am doing. I help my father and I have my husband’s cooperation too. I finish work at home in the morning and come to the shop.” She has two sons — P. Sandeep who is studying in first year degree and the younger one P. Sagar studying in first year PUC.

More power to women like Geetha Mani and may her tribe increase.