Patna: Three women from Tiyanali village under Patna block of the district have become self-reliant through farming and other businesses. By cultivating crops like potato, banana, watermelon, and also engaging in tailoring, they are now earning a good income and supporting their families. The women stated that the financial assistance received under the Subhadra Scheme has been a great support.
Reportedly, village resident Pratima Mahanta was the first to receive the Subhadra Scheme funds and initially used it to begin potato farming. After selling 10 quintals of potatoes, she used the proceeds to procure 214 high-quality banana saplings from the Horticulture Department and planted them in her backyard. With the second installment of the scheme funds, she built fencing around the banana garden and bought fertilizers and pesticides. She earned about ₹10,000 from the leftover potatoes and expects to earn ₹50,000 annually from the banana plantation.
Additionally, she bought a sewing machine with part of the funds and started tailoring from home. She now earns ₹400 to ₹500 daily.
Three Women Inspire through Farming and Tailoring
These women, now earning thousands of rupees, aim to invest part of their profit in starting a lemon orchard and improving irrigation facilities on their land. Pratima, whose husband is differently-abled and who has two children, was previously struggling financially with no stable income. Now, through farming, she is able to sustain her family.
Inspired by Pratima’s success and model, villagers Jayanti Mahanta, Mamina Mahanta, and others have also utilized Subhadra Scheme funds, combining them with their own savings to start cultivating bottle gourd and watermelon on five acres of land. With good yields, they hope to generate substantial income.
Patna BDO Manas Kumar Dandapat stated that women can avail various subsidies through Horticulture, Agriculture, and OLM departments. They are encouraged to take the help of agricultural scientists for modern scientific farming methods. He also added that the government aims to create Lakhpati Didis (women earning lakhs annually) and will ensure they get access to agricultural loans.