Latest news with #NeeluKumari
Hans India
18-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Rejected by in-laws, supported by 'Jeevika': Begusarai's Neelu turns adversity into success
The Modi government's slew of schemes for women empowerment, and the firm resolve of womenfolk in general, are scripting a new success story for India, thereby inviting global attention. The latest instance of this change is Bihar's Begusarai district, where Jeevika Yojana is changing the lives of women by enabling them to overcome adversities and become self-dependent. Pachamba, a locality about 5 km away from Begusarai, has become a big centre of empowerment of the 'Jeevika Didi' yojana, with Neelu Kumari emerging as the face of this success. However, Neelu's journey was not easy. She was beset with one of the biggest challenges after her marriage, and this is what laid the foundation for her inspirational journey. Her husband was an alcoholic, and her in-laws kept harassing her, following which she returned to her maternal home. But now, with Jeevika's sewing house, she has not only become self-reliant but has moved up the ladder of success. Neelu Kumari told IANS that she got married to Chandan Kumar Sharma, a resident of Asha toll village in Bhagalpur district, in 2010, and the groom's side duped their family by telling lies. 'At the time of marriage, Chandan Sharma's family members told me that the groom works in a tower installation company. But, after marriage, I got to know that he didn't work and also he was an alcohol addict,' she said. She was not only beaten and abused by her husband but also tortured by the in-laws for not bearing a son after marriage. Her in-laws also did not send her two daughters to school for studies, and neither did they give them proper food. Troubled by her in-laws, Neelu chose a different path and joined 'Muskaan Jeevika'. Today, Neelu is an active member of the Jeevika programme and is doing sewing and embroidery work, thereby shaping the future of her daughters. Neelu Kumari said that before joining Jeevika, she had to face financial difficulties, but today she is standing on her own feet. Rather, she is not alone, the lives of hundreds of women like Neelu have completely changed after joining Jeevika. Notably, Jeevika is a community-based organisation in Bihar, having around 10 lakh women self-help groups, thereby uniting approximately 1.24 crore women for Swachhata Hi Seva in Bihar. With women joining hands to reach out to villages for awareness generation and undertaking mass cleanliness activities, this marks a true reflection of 'Nari Shakti'.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Bihar: Neelu's spices business and sapling nursery bring paradigm change in village, courtesy PMFMPE scheme
Bhagalpur: Neelu Kumari, a resident of Jittiya village in the city, has scripted an inspirational story of self-reliance under the Prime Minister's Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFMPE) scheme. Her spices outlet as well as sapling nursery has brought a paradigm change in the fellow villagers' thinking, acceptance, as well as endorsement of the new initiative. Neelu, despite having completed an MA degree, did not get employment and rather started her own venture to realise her vision of a self-reliant nation. She took the help of schemes like Jeevika, MNREGA, and PMFME. Today, she is running a spice grinding business in her village and has also set up a sapling nursery. Her initiative has become an inspiration for other women of the village. Neelu, who had an inter-caste marriage, broke social barriers and chose the path of self-reliance. Taking the help of the PMFME scheme, she started her own spice grinding business. Her business not only strengthened her financial condition but also benefited the local farmers who produce spices. Neelu, sharing her story with IANS, said, "We faced setbacks during the Corona period. Earlier, our condition was very bad, but this scheme made us self-reliant. Today, we are not only earning but also providing employment to other women of the village." Along with the spice business, Neelu also started a plant nursery with the help of MNREGA under Mission Gardening. She says, "Earlier, there was no nursery in our village or block. We got help after registering under MNREGA and Jeevika. Now people come to us from far-off places to buy plants. Our business has become stronger through Jeevika, as they give preference to our plants." Another female beneficiary of the village, who joined the Jeevika group in 2014, said that she got a flour mill under the PMFME scheme in 2019. 'This scheme proved very beneficial for us during the Corona period. Earlier we had to go far away, but now we have got work in the village itself. Our condition has improved, and we are proud that we are becoming self-reliant along with Neelu Didi," she said. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "Such schemes should be more successful in villages. I want special schemes to be brought for widows and poor women, so that they can also become self-reliant. The benefits of these schemes should reach the women of the lower strata of the village." PMFME, a scheme run by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, provides financial, technical and business support to micro food processing enterprises. This scheme has given entrepreneurs like Neelu an opportunity to promote and grow their business. Neelu's story proves that with the right opportunity and hard work, success can be achieved even in adverse circumstances. Neelu Kumari's initiative is an example of success not only for her village but also for the whole Bhagalpur district. Her story is an example of people contributing to the vision of a self-reliant India.
