Latest news with #SelfHelpGroup
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
MP's nine-month celebration of an 18th-century queen: The importance of Ahilyabai Holkar
THE 18TH-CENTURY Maratha queen Devi Ahilyabai Holkar is seeing a revival in Madhya Pradesh, with the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government orchestrating one of the most comprehensive state-led cultural commemorations in recent memory, in the run-up to her 300th birth anniversary celebrations later this month. The culmination, on May 31, will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the Indore Metro Rail's first phase, along with Datia and Satna airports, as well as give an address to a 'Women Empowerment Grand Conference' in Bhopal. Over two lakh women are expected to attend, including Self Help Group (SHG) members, Ladli Behna scheme beneficiaries, and entrepreneurs. The Madhya Pradesh campaign — spanning nine months since September 2024, multiple cities, and political, academic and developmental initiatives – has elevated Ahilyabai from a historically revered figure to the centerpiece of politics in Madhya Pradesh. It helps that Ahilyabai, apart from her administrative genius, is a cultural symbol with much resonance for her contribution towards restoration of many temples. As part of the celebrations, Madhya Pradesh has held folk and dance performances; art exhibitions; theatrical dramas across cities like Maheshwar, Chitrakoot, Indore, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, and Orchha on Ahilyabai; sanctioned a state-sponsored film on her life and a commemorative book; exhibitions of 234 watercolor paintings of temples she restored (including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi), and a light-and-sound show in her name. Alongside this, the Marathi Sahitya Academy is translating documents related to Ahilyabai and planning her statues along the Narmada Parikrama route. At a recent Cabinet meeting, held at Ahilyabai's Rajwada Palace in Indore, Yadav approved Rs 3,876 crore worth of development projects related to the campaign, and sanctioned a youth training programme named after her to provide interest subsidies on loans. A Women Start-Up Policy is in the works, with female artisans and entrepreneurs being prominently showcased at exhibitions on Ahilyabai. CM takes the lead Mohan Yadav has taken personal ownership of the campaign around Ahilyabai, linking her story to the development work and women's empowerment schemes of his own government. Ahilyabai's place in the Hindutva pantheon is an additional bonus for the first-time CM, who is seeking to consolidate his position in the state's politics. His selection as CM ahead of other leaders after long-time CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan was moved to the Centre as Union minister had come as a surprise. Deepak Tiwari, the former Vice Chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi University and an author on Madhya Pradesh's political history, pointed out that Ahilyabai's renovation of Shiva temples across India makes her a figure with lasting cultural resonance. While other CMs have highlighted religious and historical figures, Tiwari noted, it was the first time that events were being planned at this scale. 'This type of politics did not happen in the past. The first time sadhus entered the political scene was with Uma Bharti in 2003. But the celebration of a religious icon at this level on the government level never took place before' he said. Tiwari also pointed out that Mohan Yadav is the first Madhya Pradesh CM who is himself in-charge of Indore district. 'Indore is the commercial and financial capital of the state. He is treating Indore like he treats Ujjain (his home base).' The decision to hold the Cabinet meeting at Rajwada Palace, from Ahilyabai's seat of power, was deliberate, Tiwari said. Indore, incidentally, is the turf of BJP heavyweight and Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who was considered a probable CM face before the BJP picked Yadav. At a recent event, Mohan Yadav also linked Ahilyabai's temple-restoration legacy to resistance against the Mughals. 'The Mughals launched a campaign to destroy our devasthans. I have no hesitation saying that barring Ahilyabai Holkar, the big rulers did not pay attention to this issue,' he said. This links with the BJP narrative of praising 'homegrown' princely states for upholding India's cultural history. BJP leaders in the state counter the contention that the celebration of Ahilyabai is aimed at scoring political points. Senior BJP leader and Indore (Rural) District President Ghanshyam Naroliya said the events were just an extension of Yadav's women-centric governance. Naroliya said, 'The celebrations will continue under all BJP-ruled states. We want to take her story to pan-India level.' A senior RSS leader from Indore said, 'It is unfair to say Devi Ahilyabai is used by the BJP and RSS for political points. The Sangh is celebrating her social and religious contribution, her governance model. We want society to know about all of this. We celebrate national heroes like Dr Ambedkar, Vivekananda, and the 1857 rebellion. The Sangh commemorated all of these important historical events. Why should the whole country not know about Ahilyabai? She was not just a queen based in Indore.'
Hans India
27-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
This woman makes farming profitable
Vijayawada: Battula Hema Satya Venkata Lakshmi Prasanna also briefly called Hema, a woman farmer from Veerapanenigudem in Gannavaram mandal of Krishna district, never imagined that she would make farming profitable. She used to practice chemical farming once and found herself on the verge of quitting agriculture. With a mere one-acre landholding of her own and three additional acres taken on lease, she struggled to make ends meet. Her mango orchard, inherited and cultivated with chemical inputs, had been incurring loss year after year. The escalating costs of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation had pushed her into debt. It was during this time of despair that the AP Community-managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme implemented by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), introduced her to a ray of hope with pre-monsoon dry sowing (PMDS). In 2020, Hema adopted PMDS by sowing 12 kg of Navadhanya (nine traditional grains) per acre before the monsoon. The technique was repeated each year from 2021 to 2025 by increasing the varieties of seeds up to 30. This simple yet powerful intervention transformed her soil structure, increased water holding capacity, and drastically reduced input costs. She started using bio-stimulants which include Ghana Jeevamrutham and Drava Jeevamrutham, along with botanical extracts such as Agnastram, Panchagavya and cow dung asafoetida solution. Fallen mangoes were fermented and used as a jaggery substitute in preparations of bio-stimulants and growth promoters completing the cycle of on-farm resource utilisation. The results were remarkable. With each passing year, Hema witnessed a steady rise in income. She claims: 'From Rs 1.20 lakh in 2020, my earnings soared to Rs 3 lakh in 2021, Rs 4 lakh in 2022, Rs 5 lakh in 2023, Rs 5.60 lakh in 2024, and a phenomenal Rs 10 lakh in 2025. Alongside the mango orchard, I have cultivated vegetables, leafy greens and marigold flowers.' In addition, the family now earns up to Rs 10,000 per month by selling surplus vegetables, while their two indigenous cows benefit from year-round green fodder. The natural quality of her produce created high demand in the local market. With the help of Self Help Group (SHG) members and RySS staff, she began promoting her farm products through WhatsApp groups. This direct communication led to advance bookings, particularly for her mangoes. Even government employees near the local Primary Health Centre have become regular buyers, often visiting the orchard to make purchases directly. Hema, thanks to PMDS and natural farming practice, now irrigates her orchard far less frequently even during summers because of improved soil moisture retention. The same red rocky land that once demanded excessive effort has now become fertile and manageable. Even 30-year-old mango trees are showing improved productivity. Additionally, she is earning from the sale of livestock fodder grown on her land. Today, Hema stands as a beacon of hope for many farmers in her region. Once on the brink of quitting, she is now a successful farmer and a community resource person with RySS. Her journey showcases how traditional wisdom, when combined with sustainable practices, can turn around even the most challenging agricultural situations.
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
NTR district hosts first workshop for SHG women
VIJAYAWADA: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Andhra Pradesh, the NTR district administration conducted a workshop in Vijayawada on Friday to promote the 'One Family-One Entrepreneur' programme, aimed at encouraging Self Help Group (SHG) women to become entrepreneurs. NTR District Collector S. Dilli Rao Lakshmisha inaugurated the event and stressed the importance of structured efforts to foster industrial development through grassroots entrepreneurship. 'We are committed to turning this vision into a movement by empowering every family to nurture at least one entrepreneur,' he said. Successful entrepreneurs such as Punarbhava Saskthivel (Punarbhava Sustainable Products), CH Jitendriya (Akruthi Bio Green), Keerthana (9 Nutz), and Madhuri (Sri Syamalamba Food Products) shared their entrepreneurial journeys with the SHG women. Collector Lakshmisha announced that Rs. 855 crore in bank-linked loans will be disbursed this year to SHG groups to support women's livelihoods. He said awareness programmes would be conducted for 4.5 lakh SHG members across the district. The government's goal, he added, is to make every woman self-sufficient and entrepreneurial. A target of Rs. 55 lakh per capita income by 2047 has been set, with the ambition to make NTR district a model in development. DRDA PD Nachararao and UCD PO P Venkata Narayana were present.
