Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, June 2

Repeated losses after the outbreak of Covid and increase in annual lease rate of one and half acres of the panchayat land have failed to dampen the spirits of the women of Changaliwala village in the district.

Having formed a group, they are struggling to gain financial independence through organic farming.

“We earned profit in 2019, but in 2020 the village panchayat increased the annual lease money from Rs 55,000 to Rs 78,000, while hailstorm also caused losses of around Rs 1.50 lakh. Later, Covid further multiplied our problems. It’s disheartening, but we will not give up as we want to set an example for other illiterate women of the area by becoming self dependent,” said Gurmeet Kaur, who sells organic vegetables near Lehra town of the district.

For fiscal freedom

• Started as a 10-member group in 2019, they are now just a group of four, who are determined to overcome all troubles
• “We earned profit in 2019, but in 2020 the panchayat raised the annual lease money. Hailstorms and Covid further multiplied our problems. But we will set an example by becoming self dependent,” says Gurmeet Kaur

Before launching their own group comprising 10 members in 2019, they used to work as labourers. With time, many quit and now with only four members left, they are determined to defeat all problems.

“Our input cost has increased, but sales have declined due to Covid. Though only four of us are left in the group, which also means our contribution has increased, we will prove ourselves by gaining profit in future,” said Harbans Kaur, another member of the group.

She said in 2019 they had taken a loan of Rs 55,000 from a bank and earned good profit, but in 2020 they had to take loan of Rs 78,000. Though they repaid the entire amount, Covid decreased their profit margin. In the current year, they have taken a loan of Rs 80,000. “To date, we are struggling on our own without any government help. The state government should help us immediately if its authorities are really serious about uplifting rural women,” said Shindar Kaur, another member of the group.

Sangrur ADC Development Rajinder Batra said: “The government has been helping women through various schemes. We will see how we can help these women.”