Disability is no bar for Joly

But she has little time. She remains busy either on her sewing machine or talking to clients who come for delivery of garments.

Joly, daughter of landless labourer Anaruddin Molla, became disabled at the age of three when polio bend one of her legs. As usual for such an illiterate and poor family, she did not go to school and at the age of 14 she was married to labourer Mohom Molla of the same village.

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As days passed, their sufferings increased due to poverty. Her husband failed to feed the family of four, with one son and one daughter.

"My son Tariqul tried to work as a labourer and earn. But it is hard for minor boy to find work", she told this correspondent during a visit to her house. They built a tin-shed house last year.

Fortune slimed on them about two and a half years back. Officials of Action on Disability and Development' (ADD), an NGO working for the disabled, came to the village. They trained her on tailoring and gave her a sewing machine for free.

She started with making 'baby garments'. Her husband sold those to local markets at cheaper rates.

She now gets order for all types of readymade garmets from traders at far away places.

"They pay me in advance", a giggling Joly said.

"Disability is no problem.

"I now earn Tk 5000 to Tk 6000 a month. My son and daughter go to school and my husband helps me in the work". Their income increases during occasions like Eid and Puja.

Local elite, journalists and ADD officials very often visit Joly, whose success has raised hopes in many in Khalia and neighbouring villages.