Heading to the fields with the first rays of the morning, tending to the flourishing crops, and earning a respectable income by selling her hard-earned produce in the market in the evening, this is the new identity of Mrs. Hemlata Patel of Domadih (A) village in Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district. Once confined to the confines of her home, Hemlata has now emerged as a living example of women’s empowerment and self-reliance in the entire region.
Hemlata always dreamed of strengthening her family financially and establishing her own identity, but a lack of resources and proper guidance always hindered her. Meanwhile, the National Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihan) brought a new turn in her life. After joining the village’s Khushi Self Help Group, she had the opportunity to learn about savings, financial management, and various livelihood activities. Relying on the support of the group and cluster, she took out a loan of 60,000 rupees and invested the money in expanding traditional farming and vegetable production.
Hemlata took this opportunity not just as a loan, but as a means to change her destiny. She toiled in the fields, adopted better agricultural management, and began exporting fresh vegetables to local markets. The results of her hard work soon became visible, and with the increased demand for produce in the markets, her daily turnover reached 3,000 to 4,000 rupees on peak days. Currently, she earns a substantial income of approximately 2 lakh rupees annually through farming and vegetable production.
This change not only brought financial stability to Hemlata’s family but also alleviated the worry about her children’s future and their education. Today, she plays a strong role in every decision, both big and small, at home. The support she received from ‘Bihan’ and ‘Khushi Self Help Group’ has transformed Hemlata from an ordinary housewife to a successful female farmer-entrepreneur. Her success proves that if rural women get the right direction and opportunities, they can not only change the picture of their family but can also present a new example of self-reliance to the society.
