A homemaker’s journey from penury to financial independence

For Seema Devi, it was tough to run a family of six with a meagre income. Her husband, a labourer, was the only member of the family and Seema, who had attended school till class 5, felt helpless for not being able to support her husband.
Hailing from Mahmadpur village in Varanasi district, Seema struggled to make ends meet for years, looking after her four children, mother-in-law and husband.Finally, she joined a self-help groupz (SHG), Sheetla Mata Swayam Sahayata Samuh, under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
"Earlier, I did not know how I would fund my children's education. My husband was the sole breadwinner, and while I contributed by growing some vegetables on a small piece of land, it made little difference to our financial condition," she recalled.
"After joining the group, I've made a name for myself in the village. People know me as ‘Seema Didi'," said Seema, who now earns an impressive annual income of Rs 7.2 lakh.
After joining the SHG, she was provided modular training and guidance on the importance of community support. Seema gained access to low-interest loans and a network of women who shared similar struggles.
Seema secured three loans totaling Rs 3,00,000, along with a Rs 2,00,000 Mudra loan. This financial backing enabled her to purchase a ‘dona pattal' (leaf plates) machine, which marked the beginning of a successful venture.
She started by operating the machine herself, and later expanded her business to include five ‘dona' machines and a ‘pattal' machine. She employs 10 women from her group in her unit but has also connected 15 women from other groups.
In 2019, R-SETI provided training sessions on making ‘dona pattal', further enhancing Seema's skills and knowledge.
Her success inspired the formation of 13 additional self-help groups in her village.
"I have learned about various govt schemes, which has enhanced my ability to take risks and make decisions," she said, thanking the Yogi govt for its initiatives to empower women.