- A new example of hard work and self-confidence
With hard work, patience, and the right guidance, any woman can change her life. With self-confidence, even an ordinary woman can become a new example of success for her family and society. Similarly, the story of Mrs. Kranti Bai Netam, a member of the Ujala Self-Help Group in Parvi, a small village in Bhanupratappur, the Janpad Panchayat of North Bastar Kanker district, is an example of struggle, hard work, and self-confidence. Coming from a simple family, Kranti Bai faced many difficulties in her life. Despite family responsibilities, limited resources, and financial constraints, she never gave up.
Kranti Bai explained that initially, her life was limited to farming and family. With the responsibility of four children and an uncertain future, she kept her self-respect burning despite hardship. In 2013, her life took a new turn when she joined the National Rural Livelihood Mission, where she became a member of the Ujala Self-Help Group. Joining the group provided her with access to credit, savings, and new livelihood opportunities, giving her a new direction. Kranti Bai began cultivating various types of crops on her 10 acres of land. In addition to cultivating paddy using the SRI method, she also cultivated black gram and seasonal vegetables. She also used Jeevamrit and vermicompost instead of chemical fertilizers, which reduced farming costs and increased production. Alongside farming, she also began poultry farming, fish farming, and lac cultivation. Her hard work and dedication resulted in a good income from lac production, with her product fetching around ₹850 per kg. This steadily increased her income.
She expanded her operations by taking a loan of ₹2.5 lakh from the group. Today, her monthly income has reached approximately ₹13,500, and she is recognized as a successful Lakhpati Didi. Kranti Bai’s success is not limited to her income. Kanti Bai, who once lived in a small mud house, now has a permanent house. Today, her children are in college and government service, her sons are becoming self-reliant, and the family’s standard of living has improved. Kranti Bai, an active member of the Ujala Self-Help Group, has also become an inspiration for other women in the village. She inspires women to become self-reliant, join the group, and progress through hard work.