Government welfare schemes are bringing about positive changes in the lives of people in remote rural areas of Bastar. Especially, the National Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihan) scheme plays a pivotal role in rural development as well as in empowering rural women. Radha Kashyap, a resident of the small village of Gumdi in the Makdi development block of Kondagaon district, exemplifies this transformation.
Radha lives with her husband and two children, and today, they lead a happy life. However, five years ago, the situation was quite different, as Radha and her husband struggled to make ends meet. Her husband was engaged in farming, while Radha spent all her time managing household chores and agricultural work. The family’s financial condition was dire, but these difficulties did not deter Radha’s resolve. Determined to support her family, she joined the Durga Self-Help Group in 2016, marking the beginning of her journey towards self-reliance.
A Turning Point for Radha’s Family through the Bihan Scheme
After joining the self-help group, Radha received an opportunity to become a Bank Sakhi under the Bihan scheme. She underwent a 10-day training at Jagdalpur RSETI, where she learned about financial literacy and computer skills. This training provided her with a better understanding of banking services and enhanced her proficiency in her work. In 2018, she took a loan of Rs 68,000 and began working as a Bank Sakhi for the Chhattisgarh State Rural Bank. Currently, Radha earns around Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month in this role, which has become a significant financial support for her family. With her income, she helped her husband set up a grocery store, enabling him to manage both farming and the shop, thereby improving the family’s economic condition.
Radha has been entrusted with the responsibility of serving three villages across two panchayats, with a total population of approximately 2,500. She conducts transactions worth up to Rs 1.5 lakh daily through the rural bank and DigiPay services. On average, around 80 people approach her daily for financial services, and she has opened 503 savings accounts so far. Thanks to her efforts, about 1.6 lakh digital transactions have been completed, involving a total amount of Rs 2.5 crore.
Radha primarily facilitates payments to MNREGA workers and has benefitted 30,000 workers under this scheme. Additionally, she delivers pensions to 25 individuals under the Old Age Pension Scheme every month by visiting their homes. Besides her role as a Bank Sakhi, Radha also provides services through the Common Service Centre. She has issued 1,200 e-Shram cards and 800 Ayushman cards, earning a commission of Rs 30,000. Moreover, she has helped nearly 1,000 people avail benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. Through her efforts, Radha has played a crucial role in ensuring that government schemes are accessible and beneficial to the rural population.
Radha Kashyap’s success story is not just her own, but also represents the journeys of thousands of women who are moving towards self-reliance by joining the Bihan scheme. Radha acknowledges that Bihan scheme has brought a significant change in her life, enabling her to support her husband financially. She expressed her gratitude towards the National Rural Livelihood Mission, while extending special thanks to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai for their continued support.