Chhattisgarh's Bihan initiative has changed life for Geeta Kushawaha, and now she is inspiring others

Geeta Kushwaha of Ruppur in Balrampur district lives with her husband and two children. She has a 14 year old daughter and an 8 year old son. Her husband is a farmer. The family was not a well to do family and always had trouble making both ends meet as the earnings were limited. The family income was low and it was not enough to fulfil all the needs of the family members. Geeta and her husband were worried about the future of their children too. They did not know how to bring any positive change to their lives. However, they were determined to do what it takes to improve the conditions of the family.

The opportunity to bring positive changes came in the form of Bihan. It is a scheme of the Chhattisgarh government under the National Rural Livelihood Mission. The aim of this scheme is to provide livelihood opportunities to women. When Geeta learnt about it, she thought it could be the road to prosperity for her family. She talked to her husband and he also encouraged her to get involved in Bihan. Geeta and a few other women formed a Self Help Group named Lakshmi Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh. Under the banner of the SHG, she and the other women took up various agricultural activities because they were already from agricultural background. “Earlier our productivity was low but now our productivity has increased and it is giving us profit. Earlier we were very poor but now our life has improved. We are seeing a lot of progress.” Geeta says.

Geeta and the other women in the SHG today cultivate rice and vegetables. They are adopting advanced farming methods that they have learnt after getting associated with Bihan. After the initial support from the government their activities are now self-sustaining.

From shy housewives, these women have transformed themselves into confident working women. Today they know how to manage finances and to maintain accounts. They also know how to expand their activities and sell their produce. It has been an amazing transformation story. Apart from the growing confidence and bank balance, Geeta also feels satisfied that she is contributing to the prosperity of the family now. She also has big dreams about her children. “I want to support their education. I want them to get as much education they want so that they can progress in life. I want them to achieve big.” She says.

Geeta and the other women in their Self Help Group are also proud of the fact that other women are also getting inspired by their progress story. More and more women are getting associated with Bihan with an aim to bring about positive changes in their lives and most of them are inspired by other women who have already shown the example.

Geeta thinks that women can contribute a lot to their families and the society in general if they get a little support. She feels that women should not consider themselves weak or incapable. As for the positive changes in her life, she is grateful to Bihan, without which, she feels, it would not have been possible for her to do what she is doing today.