- Impressed by the success, the collector himself visited the house and patted it on the back.
The National Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihan), run by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department of the Chhattisgarh government, is proving to be a major vehicle for economic and social change in the lives of rural women. Thanks to the state government’s public welfare policies under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai, rural women are now writing a new chapter of self-reliance. In this context, Udkunwar Bhanu, a resident of Kodgar village in the Pendra development block of the Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district, has now become a “Lakhpati Didi” by running a successful business and is a source of inspiration for other women. Collector Dr. Santosh Kumar Dewangan wholeheartedly praised her dedication.
From Laborer to Lakhpati Didi:
Udkunwar Bhanu, who once worked as a laborer to support her family, had no permanent source of income. Despite her limited education and resources, she remained resolute and joined the Jai Maa Santoshi Women’s Self Help Group (JMSS) under the Bihan scheme in 2017. Through financial literacy training under the scheme, she became financially aware. Subsequently, she started her business with just five goats, receiving financial assistance of 30,000 rupees from the Community Investment Fund. Encouraged by her initial success, she took out an additional loan of 15,000 rupees and expanded her business.
With training from the Bihan Mission’s Pashu Sakhi, she learned the ins and outs of better goat management, nutrition, and treatment. Today, Udkunwar Bhanu owns 29 goats, selling them in local markets, earning her a net income of over 100,000 rupees annually. In the future, she is also planning to start a poultry business.
“The Collector visited her home and praised her,”
she said. When the district administration learned of Udkunwar’s extraordinary hard work and self-reliance, the District Collector, Dr. Santosh Kumar Dewangan, personally visited her at her workplace and home. The Collector visited her goat farm (goat rearing center) and expressed his sincere appreciation for her dedication. He stated that the Bihan Mission is not only empowering rural women financially but also instilling in them tremendous self-confidence and leadership skills.
The Chief Executive Officer of the District Panchayat also described Udkunwar’s achievement as a unique and inspiring example of women’s empowerment. Government officials say that the state government’s public welfare policies are reaching those in need directly, giving the rural economy a new and strong direction.