- Raising the bar high through livelihood activities
- Dhananjay Rathore, Surendra Thakur
- Joint Director, Public Relations
By joining the self-help group and Bihan, Mrs. Sago Teta has not only achieved economic independence but has also given a new identity to her self-respect and self-confidence. Today, other women of village Garhpichhwadi of Kanker district are also getting inspired by her and joining livelihood activities. Mrs. Teta attributes her success to the National Rural Livelihood Mission Scheme of the Government of India and the Bihan initiative of the Chhattisgarh Government. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai, she said that these schemes have provided rural women with the opportunity to become self-reliant and become ‘Lakhpati Didi’. Bihan Yojana has brought a new Bihan in the life of Mrs. Sago Teta.
Mrs. Sago Teta has created her own distinct identity as ‘Lakhpati Didi’
If the passion to achieve something and that willpower are combined with a little help from the government, it doesn’t take long for success to reach from rags to riches. Women of Kanker district are honing their skills by receiving training and assistance from the government. One such example is Mrs. Sago Teta, a tribal woman from village Garhpichhwadi, located about 7 kilometers from the district headquarters, who has today established her distinct identity as ‘Lakhpati Didi’. Her success proves that with hard work, dedication, self-confidence and proper opportunities, rural women can also set an example for their group, family and society on their own.
- The group promoted Mrs. Sago
There was a time when, due to financial constraints, Mrs. Sago had to depend on others for even the smallest of needs. Farming was her only source of livelihood, but due to limited resources and traditional methods, the income was very low. She was often worried about her children’s education and household expenses. During this time, she came to know about the National Rural Livelihood Mission ‘Bihan’. Inspired by this, Sago Bai, along with other women of the village, formed the Gayatri Self-Help Group, which includes 10 women.
- Facility of double crop irrigation in the fields
After joining the group, she received a community investment amount of Rs 60,000 under Bihan, which gave a new direction to her life. Mrs. Sago Teta says that earlier there was no motor pump (borewell) in her field, due to which farming was completely dependent on rain and she could grow only one crop of paddy in a year. Then she took a loan from the self-help group and got a bore done in her field, due to which she has now got the facility of irrigation. The positive result of this is that now she is growing both the crops (Kharif and Rabi) in her fields in a year, due to which her income has increased significantly.
- Livelihood-oriented activities made Didi a millionaire
Along with this, Sago Bai also started several livelihood-oriented activities. She started mushroom farming, chenna (chhena) production, organic fertilizer from cow dung, cotton pillow making, vegetable production, brick manufacturing, and clothing sales. Her persistent hard work paid off, and today she earns approximately 18,000 to 20,000 rupees per month from these various activities. Due to this consistent income and savings, she is now recognized throughout the region as “Lakhpati Didi.”
- There has been a big change in life, benefits of Mahatari Vandan Yojana are also being received.
Lakhpati Didi, Mrs. Sago Teta, explains that joining the self-help group has brought significant change to her life. With this income, she has educated her three children and married off two of them. Now, she is preparing to marry off her younger daughter with the income she earns from her livelihood. She also shared that she is taking advantage of the Mahatari Vandan Yojana, saving the proceeds for any major expenses associated with her daughter’s wedding.