Joining Bihan, She Turned Her Skills into a Business Foundation; Earns Rs 2–3 Lakh Annually Through Tailoring, Grocery, Poultry and Hatchery Activities
Raipur, Sept 2026: The success story of Ranu Kaivart, a resident of Andi Gram Panchayat in Marwahi development block of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district, has emerged as an inspiring example of the economic empowerment of rural women.
After joining the National Rural Livelihood Mission-Bihan, Ranu combined her skills, hard work and available resources with multiple livelihood activities. Today, her annual income has reached approximately Rs 2–3 lakh.
Ranu is the secretary of the Shiv Guru Women’s Self-Help Group. After becoming associated with Bihan, she received an opportunity to expand economic activities through the group. Using the support and guidance provided by the group, she chose not to depend on a single business and instead adopted multiple livelihood activities.
She made tailoring, a clothing shop, a grocery store, quail rearing, indigenous poultry farming and a hatchery part of her economic activities.
These efforts not only diversified her sources of income but also strengthened her family’s financial position. Today, Ranu earns approximately Rs 2–3 lakh annually through her hard work and multiple livelihood activities and has established herself as a Lakhpati Didi.
‘Lakhpati Didi’ Vision Opens New Opportunities for Women
Ranu’s success can be viewed in the context of the broader initiative aimed at making rural women economically self-reliant, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi placing emphasis on the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ vision.
Under the Central Government’s National Rural Livelihood Mission, women associated with self-help groups are provided support for livelihoods, financial inclusion, skills, entrepreneurship and access to institutional credit.
The Lakhpati Didi initiative is an outcome of this mission and aims to enable women members of self-help groups to earn a sustainable annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh.
According to the Central Government, as of July 2026, around 10.08 crore rural households across the country had been connected with approximately 92 lakh self-help groups, while more than 3.46 crore women had been enabled to become Lakhpati Didis.
Lakhs of Women in Chhattisgarh Join Self-Help Groups
According to the Union Ministry of Rural Development, 2.79 lakh self-help groups were active in Chhattisgarh under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, benefiting approximately 29.78 lakh women.
The initiative is not limited to connecting women with self-help groups. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, self-help groups are linked with financial inclusion, sustainable livelihoods and the strengthening of community institutions.
The Central Government also provides assistance such as Revolving Funds and Community Investment Funds, enabling women to access capital and institutional support to expand their livelihood activities.
Multiple Livelihood Activities Boost Income
The distinctive feature of Ranu Kaivart’s story is that she chose to combine several activities rather than depend on a single source of income.
From tailoring and a clothing shop to a grocery business, quail rearing, indigenous poultry farming and a hatchery, these activities have created multiple income opportunities for her.
Ranu said that after joining the self-help group, she received an opportunity to expand her economic activities. She made effective use of the support and guidance provided through the Bihan group and adopted different livelihood activities.
According to her, joining the group also increased her confidence to move forward independently.
Mahtari Vandan Scheme Provides Additional Financial Support
Ranu also receives monthly financial assistance under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana.
According to her, the regular financial assistance helps meet household requirements and has strengthened her confidence to further expand her economic activities.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunities that have supported her journey towards success and self-reliance, Ranu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
An Inspiring Story of Self-Reliance Under Seva Sankalp Abhiyan
Ranu Kaivart’s story demonstrates that when rural women receive organisational support, guidance, financial assistance and livelihood opportunities, and combine these with their skills and hard work, they can bring positive changes to their families’ economic conditions.
Her story, highlighted under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, is an example of the coordination between the Central Government’s National Rural Livelihood Mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lakhpati Didi vision and the support being provided to women’s self-help groups through Bihan in Chhattisgarh.
By connecting her skills and hard work with available opportunities, Ranu Kaivart has created her own path towards self-reliance and is now becoming an inspiration for other women in her village.
