- “A gift of prosperity and self-reliance for sisters, Vishnu Bhaiya’s government.”
- By joining the Kali Maa Self-Help Group, Subhadra took a loan of Rs 1 lakh, hopes of increased income through cucumber cultivation on one acre
Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihan) is playing an important role in connecting rural women with self-help groups, engaging them in economic activities and helping them move forward on the path to self-reliance. After joining Bihan, women are receiving loans and necessary support through the groups, which they are using in various livelihood activities including agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and vegetable production. This is creating new employment and income opportunities for rural women.
The inspiring story of this change is that of Mrs. Subhadra Mandal, a resident of Sakalo Gram Panchayat in Ambikapur development block. After joining the Kali Maa Self-Help Group, Subhadra took a loan of Rs 1 lakh through the group and used this amount to start cucumber cultivation on one acre of land. With this farming initiative, she has taken an important step towards increasing her income and strengthening her family financially.
Lack of capital had become an obstacle to expanding farming
Subhadra Mandal says that earlier, due to a lack of financial resources, she was unable to undertake farming on a larger scale. The family’s income was limited, and after meeting everyday needs, sufficient capital was not available for investment in farming.
She says that she wanted to develop farming as an additional and sustainable source of income, but this was not possible due to a lack of capital. At such a time, joining Bihan brought new hope for her.
Economic support from Bihan, farming gets an expansion
Subhadra said that after joining the self-help group, she got an opportunity to take her economic activity forward. After receiving the loan facility through the group, she decided to make agriculture a means of livelihood and started cucumber cultivation on one acre.
She says that the loan not only provided her with capital to start farming, but also gave her the confidence to do something on her own. Now, through her hard work, she is moving forward with the aim of increasing production and contributing to the family’s income.
Goal of increasing income through farming and becoming a ‘Lakhpati Didi’
Subhadra Mandal says that the income earned from cucumber cultivation will help meet the family’s financial needs. At the same time, there is a plan to reinvest the profits from farming in livelihood activities in the future and further strengthen the sustainable source of income. She said that her goal is to become financially self-reliant through her hard work and continuous efforts and move forward towards becoming a ‘Lakhpati Didi’. For her, farming is now not merely a traditional occupation, but a means of increasing the family’s income and creating a better future.
Expressed gratitude to Vishnu Bhaiya
Subhadra Mandal expressed her gratitude to Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai for connecting her with the Bihan scheme and providing the loan facility to start a livelihood activity. She said that after joining Bihan, she found a way to start an economic activity and turn her hard work into an income opportunity. She said that the financial support received through the group has become an important foundation for her to move forward towards self-reliance. Now she is continuously working to increase her income through farming and strengthen the family’s financial condition.
Women’s hard work is receiving institutional support
Through the Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihan), rural women are being connected with self-help groups and provided the necessary support and loan facilities for economic activities. Women are using these resources in livelihood activities according to local conditions and their interests.
The story of Subhadra Mandal is an example of this very change, where the self-help group, institutional credit and the woman’s hard work have together created a new path towards self-reliance. The cucumber cultivation started on one acre has now become a source of additional income and hope for a better future for her family.