- Bihaan became successful female entrepreneur
Bihan (National Rural Livelihood Mission) is empowering women in self-help groups across the district and giving them a new direction and direction in their lives. Mrs. Lachhantin Bai Darpatti, a resident of Karathi village in the Bhanupratappur development block, has become a source of inspiration for women. She is an active member of the Tulsi Self-Help Group, affiliated with the Mahila Shakti Sankul Sangathan, Kanhargaon. Located approximately 8 kilometers from the district headquarters, Bihan (National Rural Livelihood Mission) has transformed her life.
Mrs. Lachhantin Bai explained that before joining the group, her family’s financial situation was poor. She faced significant difficulties in educating her children, and the family lacked financial support during difficult times. She often had to borrow money from others at interest to secure even small amounts of money. Lacking knowledge of modern farming techniques, her dream of starting her own business remained a pipe dream. During this time, she learned about the Bihan Yojana (Bihan Scheme), where 10 women form a group to save money, and when needed, they can easily access loans from there.
Along with other women in the village, she decided to join a self-help group. After joining the group, she began holding regular meetings and saving. Now, whenever needed, she can easily access loans through the group, eliminating her dependence on others. She has benefited from a revolving fund and incentives. She also received a loan of ₹120,000 from the bank to expand her livelihood activities. Now, she can easily transact with the bank. During this time, Bihan’s BPM provided her with training and guidance. Through officials, she learned about Mudra loans and received necessary assistance from the bank. Today, she operates various livelihood activities, including a Chatiya mill (a small processing unit), mushroom production, poultry farming, and agricultural work. These activities generate an income of approximately 12,000 rupees per month and approximately 145,000 rupees annually. This has strengthened the family’s financial situation, improved the children’s education, and brought positive changes to their lives. Today, Lachhtin Bai has become a source of inspiration for self-reliance and empowerment for rural women.
