Government of India
Uma Chaurasia
State : Madhya Pradesh
District: Damoh
Block: Damoh
Village: Bansa
Self Help Group: Saraswati Self-Help Group
Livelihoods Activities : Making of incense sticks (agarbatti)
Lakhpati Didi Journey
Uma Chaurasia is a resident of Bansa village. Her family was struggling with financial difficulties. After marriage, her husband ran a tea stall, barely making the daily needs.
After discussions with the women of Ajeevika Mission, she joined the Saraswati Self-Help Group. She received Rs. 80,000/- as a Community Investment Fund (CIF) from the mission. The group started making incense sticks (agarbatti), but the hand-made products lacked quality and production efficiency.
The group obtained a loan of Rs. 1.5 lakhs and a credit limit of Rs. 3 lakhs from the bank to purchase machines for incense stick production. This improved both production and quality. Uma and her group now sell incense sticks in Jabalpur, Sagar, Hatta, Damoh, and other markets, increasing their income.
Uma and her seven group members produce 2 quintals of incense sticks daily, earning Rs. 12,000/- to Rs. 14,000/- per month.
