Ganeshi Bai Begins Her Journey of Self-Reliance Through Bihan

Becomes a “Lakhpati Didi” Through Livestock Farming, Earns Over ₹3 Lakh Annually

Raipur, Nov 2025: Smt. Ganeshi Markam, a resident of Bastarbuda village under Janpad Panchayat Baderajpur in Kondagaon district, has achieved remarkable success in the field of livestock farming after joining the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (Bihan). Today, she is proudly known as a “Lakhpati Didi”.

Ganeshi Markam is an active member of the Gayatri Women Self-Help Group. Through the group, she adopted maize cultivation, goat rearing and pig rearing as her livelihood activities, which brought significant economic and social transformation to her life. From these activities, she now earns an annual income of around ₹3.56 lakh.

She shared that before joining the group, she supported her family through agricultural labour and small-scale goat rearing. At that time, her family’s annual income was only ₹66,000. After joining Bihan, she received support from the group in the form of ₹15,000 RF, ₹60,000 CIF, and loans. Ganeshi started goat rearing with just two goats, and today she owns more than 200 goats along with 10 pigs. With hard work and consistent care, her income kept increasing, and she now earns nearly ₹3 lakh annually, making her income four times higher than before. She has also provided employment to one person for assisting in goat rearing. Her family’s economic condition has strengthened, and their social status has significantly improved.

In line with the vision of the Central and State Governments, the National Rural Livelihoods Mission continues to support and guide such groups and women members, empowering them to engage in diverse livelihood activities, achieve self-reliance, and improve the economic condition of their families.