SAGAR: Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana—State Rural Livelihoods Mission, operated by the Government of Madhya Pradesh within the Sagar Development Block—Mrs. Malati Bai Kushwaha has transformed her life for the better by joining the ‘Abhar Mata’ Self-Help Group.
Today, Mrs. Malati Bai Kushwaha has access to easy credit, enabling her to earn a substantial income through vegetable cultivation, floriculture, potato and onion farming, and bag-making; in doing so, she is securing a brighter future for her family.
Mrs. Malati Bai Kushwaha recounts that prior to joining the group, she worked as an agricultural laborer alongside her husband and cultivated soybeans and wheat on their three-acre farm. Other family members—her son and daughter—would also pitch in to help with the farming chores. Due to a lack of capital, farming operations could not be completed on time, making it extremely difficult to make ends meet. Consequently, the family remained constantly mired in debt.
After joining the group, obtaining loans became much easier for Mrs. Malati Bai. She dedicated her entire landholding of 3.50 acres to the cultivation of potatoes and onions, a venture that yielded a profit of over Rs 1.75 lakhs. After repaying her initial loan, she secured another loan and installed a borewell on her farm.
With a reliable water source now available, she began cultivating vegetables and flowers during the summer season. Additionally, she purchased various agricultural implements—such as a seed drill, a cultivator, and a plough—and began renting them out to others.
Her vegetables and flowers soon began making their way to the Sagar market for sale. She no longer had to work as a daily wage laborer; instead, she now employs laborers within her own home to assist with the work. Her farming activities continued alongside these developments.
Meanwhile, through the RSETI (Rural Self-Employment Training Institute) in Sagar, she underwent training in tailoring. She subsequently purchased a sewing machine for her home and launched a bag-making enterprise. This venture generates a daily income of approximately Rs 300 through stitching, yielding a handsome profit. As a result, she has successfully accumulated savings of Rs 1,05,000 in her personal bank account.
Today, Mrs. Malati Kushwaha’s home is equipped with modern amenities, including a refrigerator, an air cooler, and a television; furthermore, she has built a permanent (pucca) house and purchased a motorcycle. For their son’s wedding, they purchased various ornaments, including bangles, waistbands, rings, Mangalsutras, and anklets.
The entire family is now fully occupied with farming, vegetable cultivation, flower production, and bag manufacturing. Previously, they used to seek out daily wage work; now, they are the ones looking for laborers to assist with their own operations.
Striving to become self-reliant, the entire family—with the support of their self-help group—worked diligently to expand their sources of income, thereby securing a respectable standard of living within their community. The awareness generated by the Livelihood Mission has been instrumental in enabling their son and daughter to pursue their education in reputable schools and colleges.
