Why women in Jharkhand are running 1.6 km in saris and slippers every morning

Before most households in Soso village begin their day, Kavita Kumari is already on the road. The 32-year-old widow travels around 8 km to Ramgarh town every morning, heading to Sidhu-Kanhu ground for a run. She does not arrive in sportswear. Kavita runs in a sari. A mother of two, she had initially gone to the ground simply to watch candidates preparing for the home guard recruitment. Watching them train pushed her to give it a try herself. She began with an 8-minute timing for the 1.6-km run. Her best now stands at seven minutes. The video of Kavita running in her sari was later widely shared on social media, although she was unaware of it at first.

Women turn up before sunrise

The ground in Ramgarh has become a training centre of sorts since the district administration announced recruitment for 284 home guard positions. The recruitment process is scheduled from October 24 to November 5. Every morning, hundreds of aspirants gather there. Some arrive in tracksuits and running shoes, while others train in saris, slippers or whatever clothing they have.

Their circumstances may differ, but the target is the same: clear the physical tests and secure a home guard position. The administration had announced the recruitment on September 19. The preparation has since turned the ground into a busy training spot, with aspirants repeating the message, “Hard labour never goes in vain.”

For many, the race is about more than a job

For women from rural families, the 1.6-km race represents much more than a fitness test. A regular income could help them pay for their children's education and provide greater financial security at home. The recruitment has also generated interest because women have 50% reservation, while widows and divorced women have a separate 5% quota.

Sunita Kumari, 30, from Budha-Khukhra village, is among those preparing in a sari. She said the clothing does not stop her from running and pointed out that several village women are now encouraging each other to participate. Sunita comes from a poor farming family. Buying a tracksuit, T-shirt and running shoes was not an option for her family, so she trains in the clothes she already owns.

Aspirants push their limits

Some candidates have already recorded impressive timings. Monika Kumari from Gola completed the 1.6-km run in six minutes and four seconds. She hopes her preparation will help her clear the recruitment process and get a home guard job. Another aspirant, Soni Kumari, joined a fitness academy to improve her performance. She sees the recruitment as a significant opportunity for women, particularly because of the reservation available to them. For Soni, getting selected would mean more than finding employment. It would offer her family a greater sense of financial stability.

Free training gives aspirants a boost

Many of the women reaching the ground have already completed their morning responsibilities. They cook, look after children and, in several cases, work in the fields before setting out for training. Fitness coach Sikandar Pandey and a martial arts trainer have been helping aspirants with free training.

A mega race organised on October 2 drew around 2,500 candidates, underlining the scale of interest in the recruitment drive. Pandey said some women come directly after finishing their household work, while others arrive without proper sportswear. Yet their stamina and timings have surprised the trainers. For these candidates, the motivation is straightforward: a government-linked job could mean better schooling for their children and greater financial security for their families.

Recruitment to include physical tests

The selection process will include the 1.6-km race along with height, chest and other eligibility and physical tests. Deputy commissioner Rituraj has instructed officials to prepare a roadmap for a transparent recruitment process, with selection based on fitness and eligibility.