Suhania Maravi, a resident of Kanharikala—a small village in the Bichhiya block of Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla district—has transformed her own life through sheer hard work and dedication, becoming an inspiration for the entire tribal community.
Having previously lived in deprivation due to limited resources and barren fields—known locally as ‘Barra’—Suhania has today achieved self-reliance and established an identity for herself as a “Lakhpati Didi” (Prosperous Sister).
In recognition of her exemplary work, Suhania Maravi was also granted the opportunity to meet with Governor Mangubhai Patel.
Destiny Transformed by the Livelihood Mission; A New Path to Income Begins with the ‘Barra’ Field
Despite her family owning four acres of land, farming was a difficult endeavor for Suhania Maravi due to the lack of irrigation facilities. The family’s sustenance depended primarily on the income generated by her husband, Pramod Maravi, through truck driving—an income that barely sufficed to keep the household running.
Amidst these challenging circumstances, the turning point in Suhania’s life arrived when she joined the Livelihood Mission (Aajeevika Mission). Suhania formed the ‘Ganga Self-Help Group’ and, by securing a loan of Rs 40,000, purchased a second-hand tractor.
By renting out the tractor, she created a new source of income and was soon able to repay the loan.
Subsequently, she prepared her barren land and commenced paddy cultivation. Relying on seasonal rainfall, she also began growing other crops, such as peas. As her self-confidence grew, Suhania secured another loan—this time for Rs 1,35,000—to purchase a thresher machine.
By renting this machine out to other farmers, she further augmented her income. Today, she possesses agricultural machinery such as a tractor, a thresher, and a loader, which have become the bedrock of her economic stability.
Recently, she was also provided with a buffalo under the Animal Husbandry Scheme, an initiative expected to further boost her income.
Maravi Empowers Thousands of Women Farmers to Become Self-Reliant
Recognizing her leadership capabilities, Suhania Maravi was appointed as the Director of the ‘Baigachak Farmer Producer Organization.’ By mobilizing a large number of women farmers, she trained them in crop production, marketing, and business practices. Consequently, the families of these farmers are now earning better incomes by selling crops such as Shri Anna (Kodo-Kutki) in an organized manner.
