Butki Overcomes Poverty to Become Self-Reliant — Blending Farming with Poultry and Goat Rearing for a Better Future

Raipur, Nov 2025 : In the remote forested regions of Bastar district, where poverty and daily wage labor once defined life, the Bihan Yojana’s Integrated Farming Cluster Project has brought a new ray of hope to women. One such inspiring story is that of Mrs. Butki Nag, who once worked as a farm laborer on others’ land to feed her family, but today stands tall as a self-reliant farmer and successful entrepreneur.

A resident of Tarai Guda Neganar village under Tarai Guda Gram Panchayat, Butki lives with her husband Jai Singh Nag. Earlier, the couple survived by working in others’ fields. But today, Butki cultivates her own three acres of land, growing paddy, maize, and green vegetables, while also managing poultry and goat farming, which together have made her economically independent.

In 2020, Butki joined the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) under the Bihan Scheme and formed the Sita Mata Women’s Self-Help Group (SHG). Through this group, she received ₹15,000 as a Revolving Fund and ₹60,000 as a Community Investment Fund, which laid the foundation for her farming venture. Her three-acre land, located just 15 kilometers from the block headquarters Darba, now flourishes with lush green crops throughout the year.

Under the Integrated Farming System Sub-Project of the Bihan Yojana, Butki cultivated paddy on 1.5 acres, maize on 1 acre, and used the remaining half acre for growing vegetables like ridge gourd, bitter gourd, and beans. To make full use of the available land, she also started poultry farming and constructed a shed for goat rearing, further diversifying her sources of income.

“Earlier, we could barely fill our stomachs by working as laborers,” says Butki with pride. “Now, farming and livestock rearing have strengthened our financial position. The Bihan Yojana not only provided us with financial support but also taught us how to earn from multiple sources through integrated farming.”

The Integrated Farming Cluster Project of Bihan Yojana has transformed lives in the tribal regions of Bastar. Like Butki, hundreds of women have broken free from the chains of poverty, building sustainable livelihoods and becoming symbols of self-reliance and empowerment.

Through determination, government support, and collective effort, Butki’s story shows that even in the most challenging conditions, women can overcome poverty and build a future of dignity and independence.