Government of India
Panchabati Baske
State : West Bengal
District : Jhargram
Block : Nayagram
Village : Damodarpur
Self Help Group : Dhartiayo Mahila dal
Livelihhod Activities : Paddy purchasing officer of FPO, Live stock rearing
Lakhpati Didi Journey
Panchabati Baske belongs to Damodarpur village of Jhargram district of West Bengal. Her journey took another turn when she became a part of a Self-Help Group and with their financial support of 25000, ventured into livestock business. Her eagerness to enhance agricultural practices, she has gone through training and transitioned to advanced methods of paddy cultivation. Concerned about the health impacts of excessive pesticide use, she made a bold move to switch to organic methods of indigenous paddy cultivation. Driven by her commitment to sustainable farming, she embraced the role of a Black rice farmer, dedicating one acre of her land to this unique crop. She started as a solo endeavor and grew into a collective effort as she mobilized eight fellow farmers in the initial year. Gradually, this community of Black rice farmers expanded to an impressive no upto 55 , symbolizing the trans-formative impact of her journey.
Her journey took an unexpected turn when she became a shareholder in a Farmers’ Producer Organization (FPO). Slowly but steadily, she climbed the ranks and assumed the role of a purchasing officer for the FPO. The initial days were not without challenges, especially as a woman engaged in livelihood activities. However, as time passed, society began to place their trust in her capabilities as a purchasing officer. She became the backbone of her family, not only providing a source of livelihood but also ensuring good health facilities for her husband. Through her diverse livelihood initiatives, she managed to generate an annual income of approximately 1.5 lakh.
