In the quiet village of Dagaraiya in Fatehpur district, a remarkable transformation has taken place. Rita Devi, once a woman who rarely stepped outside her home alone, is now a recognized entrepreneur and a pivotal figure in her family's financial stability. Her journey from shyness to success is an inspiring testament to the power of community-driven initiatives.
The Struggle Before the Success
Rita Devi's life was once defined by limitations. Her husband was a marginal farmer, and the family lived in a kachcha house, constantly grappling with financial insecurity. Making ends meet was a daily challenge. The future for her and her two children seemed constrained by their circumstances in Malwa development block.
However, a turning point arrived when Rita learned about the opportunities presented by the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) from other women in her village. This government scheme, aimed at uplifting rural communities, became the catalyst for change she needed.
The Birth of Jai Santoshi Maa SHG and a New Venture
In 2017, Rita took a bold step. She banded together with ten other women to form the Jai Santoshi Maa Women's Self-Help Group (SHG). The collective strength of the group allowed them to access formal financing. They secured a loan of Rs 1.4 lakh from the CCL fund and decided to channel it into a promising local business: fish farming.
Starting with dedication, the group began their aquaculture enterprise. Rita, showing keen business acumen, managed to scale up the operation significantly. Today, she runs three fish farming tanks, which generate a steady monthly income of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000.
Building an Empire and Inspiring a Community
The profits from fish farming were just the beginning. Rita strategically reinvested her earnings to diversify her income sources. She first opened a beauty parlour, which added another stream of revenue to her household.
The financial empowerment had a profound impact on her family's quality of life. With her earnings, Rita achieved two significant milestones: she constructed a pucca (concrete) house for her family, replacing their old kachcha dwelling, and she was able to send her two children to Mumbai for higher studies, investing in their future.
Rita Devi's story is not an isolated case in Fatehpur. According to Mukesh Kumar, the Deputy Commissioner for NRLM (self-employment) in the district, the mission has sparked a widespread movement. 18,344 women's self-help groups have been formed under NRLM in Fatehpur, covering approximately 1,95,000 families.
Kumar emphasizes that successful women like Rita have become role models, inspiring others and accelerating a rapid movement towards economic self-reliance among rural women. The model of collective action through SHGs, coupled with access to credit and viable business ideas like fishery, is proving to be a powerful formula for rural transformation in Uttar Pradesh.
