Raipur. The public welfare schemes of the government are bringing positive changes in the lives of the villagers in the remote areas of Bastar region. Among these, the National Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihan) scheme is playing an important role, which is not only developing the villages but also making rural women empowered and self-reliant. Radha Kashyap, a resident of Gumdi, a small village in Makdi development block of Kondagaon district, is a living example of this change.
Radha Kashyap lives with her husband and two children, today her family is living a happy life. But five years ago the situation was not like this. Because Radha and her husband could hardly arrange two meals a day. Radha’s husband used to do farming to run the house and Radha used to spend all her time in household chores and farming work. The financial condition of the family was very bad, but these difficult circumstances did not reduce Radha’s courage. She decided to do something to help the family and joined the Durga Self-Help Group in the year 2016. This is where her journey to become self-reliant began.
Bihan Yojana brought a new turn in Radha’s family
After joining the self-help group, Radha got the opportunity to become a Bank Sakhi under the Bihan Yojana. Radha was given a 10-day training at Jagdalpur RSETI. Where she took training in financial literacy and computers. This training gave her a better understanding of banking services and made her efficient in her work. In the year 2018, she took a loan of Rs 68 thousand and started working as a Bank Sakhi for Chhattisgarh State Rural Bank. Radha is now earning around 10 to 12 thousand rupees every month as a Bank Sakhi. This income has become a financial support for her family. She also helped her husband start a grocery shop with her income. Now her husband is running a shop along with farming, due to which the financial condition of the family has become better than before. Radha has been entrusted with the responsibility of 3 villages in 2 panchayats under the Bihan Yojana, whose total population is about 2500. She transacts up to Rs 1.5 lakh per day through Gramin Bank and Digi-Pay. About 80 people come to her daily for financial services and so far she has opened 503 savings accounts. Due to Radha’s efforts, about 1 lakh 60 thousand digital transactions have been done so far, in which a total transaction of Rs 2 crore 50 lakh has been done.
Radha mostly pays MNREGA laborers and has so far provided the benefit of this scheme to 30 thousand laborers. Apart from this, she pays the pension of 25 people every month by going door to door under the Old Age Pension Scheme. Apart from her work as a Bank Sakhi, Radha is also providing services through Common Service Center. So far, she has made 1200 e-Shram and 800 Ayushman cards, from which she has received a commission of Rs 30 thousand. Apart from this, she has provided the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana to about 1000 people. In this way, Radha is playing an important role in providing quick and accessible benefits of government schemes to the villagers.
Radha expressed gratitude to Bihan Yojana
This success story of Radha Kashyap is not only hers, but of those lakhs of women who are moving towards self-reliance by joining the Bihan Yojana. Radha says that Bihan Yojana has brought a change in her life. It was only because of being associated with this scheme that she was able to provide financial assistance to her husband. Expressing gratitude to the National Rural Livelihood Mission, she gave special thanks to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai.
