Koriya Women Boost Incomes Up to Rs 15000 Monthly Through Millet Snacks and Farming Women in Koriya district of Chhattisgarh are achieving financial independence by producing millet-based snacks and food items alongside traditional farming. Rural women in the Koriya district of Chhattisgarh are successfully transforming their financial futures by combining traditional agriculture with the production of millet-based food items. Moving beyond conventional paddy cultivation, these women are actively manufacturing snacks, laddus, sattu, and various nutritious food products. This grass-roots initiative has not only opened up reliable employment avenues for them but has also significantly strengthened their family finances. By turning their inherent skills into profitable ventures, these group members are linking farming directly to commerce, with their prepared goods now reaching local anganwadi centres. The Journey With Self-Help Groups Began in 2017 Sharing her background, group member Kusum Singh stated that she has been associated with the self-help group since the year 2017. In the initial phase, she rarely stepped outside her home and remained confined to domestic chores. However, associating with the group gradually opened doors for her to learn numerous new skills over time. This exposure boosted her self-confidence and encouraged her to step forward to build her own enterprise from scratch. Financing and Loans Jumpstarted the Enterprise According to Kusum Singh, the group initially received a financial boost of 15 thousand rupees to get things off the ground. Subsequently, funds were disbursed through a revolving cycle, followed by a Mudra loan amounting to one lakh rupees. Utilizing these financial resources, they successfully established their business operations. This venture now consistently yields a monthly income ranging between approximately 10 thousand and 15 thousand rupees for the participants. Women From Five Blocks Formed a Dedicated Company Elaborating on the organizational growth, Kusum Singh noted that their collective operates under the name 'Mor Seva'. Leveraging this network, women from five different blocks joined hands in the year 2022 to establish the 'Mahila Farmer Producer Company Limited'. Currently, 12 women are working together within this corporate structure, pooling their efforts to manage both farming activities and the manufacturing of food items. Producing Rice, Pulses, and Ragi Laddus The women's collective specializes in creating organic and aromatic Jeeraphul rice, pigeon pea dal, sattu, and nutritious ragi-sattu laddus. The supply of these wholesome products extends directly to anganwadi centres under the Women and Child Development Department. This steady institutional demand ensures continuous work for the women and provides substantial momentum to the growth of their enterprise. Strengthening Livelihoods Through Agriculture and Business These women of Koriya are carving out a distinct identity for themselves by seamlessly blending farming with food processing. Through community groups, they have secured opportunities to work, acquire modern skills, and generate respectable earnings. Expressing her appreciation, Kusum Singh extended her gratitude to the government for the continuous support provided throughout their entrepreneurial journey. What this means for you This community initiative paves the way for alternative rural livelihoods and directly enhances the financial independence of women. • Across India: Rural women gain structured pathways to establish micro-enterprises and leverage institutional credit through community networks. • Financial Gains: Participants engaged in these localized food-processing ventures secure a steady monthly income ranging from 10 thousand to 15 thousand rupees. • Institutional Support: Schemes like Mudra loans and revolving fund cycles effectively bridge capital gaps for grassroots entrepreneurs. • Nutrition Integration: Supplying locally produced millet snacks to anganwadi centres ensures guaranteed market linkage while boosting community nutrition. Why this happened This micro-enterprise ecosystem was established to supplement rural household incomes and promote value addition in regional agriculture. • Group Formation: The mobilization of women into structured self-help networks began back in the year 2017. • Financial Backing: Initial capital was mobilized through revolving funds followed by structured support via Mudra loans. • Corporate Scaling: Women across five distinct blocks united in 2022 to officially incorporate the Mahila Farmer Producer Company Limited. • Institutional Linkage: Securing supply channels with local anganwadi centres provided a reliable and consistent market for their organic millet products. Questions & Answers 1. In which district of Chhattisgarh are women producing millet items? Women are producing millet-based items in the Koriya district of Chhattisgarh. 2. In which year did Kusum Singh join the self-help group? Kusum Singh has been associated with the self-help group since 2017. 3. How much Mudra loan did the group receive to start the business? The group received a Mudra loan amounting to one lakh rupees to launch their business. 4. When was the Mahila Farmer Producer Company Limited established? The company was established in 2022 by connecting women across five blocks. 5. How many women are currently working in this company? A total of 12 women are working together in this company. 6. To which centres are these food products being supplied? The prepared products are supplied to anganwadi centres under the Women and Child Development Department. 7. What is the monthly income earned by women through this venture? The women earn a monthly income of approximately 10 thousand to 15 thousand rupees. Inspiration & Lessons The entrepreneurial journey of the women in Koriya demonstrates how grit and structured community support can transform rural livelihoods. • Step Out: Moving beyond domestic boundaries and joining collective groups equips individuals with essential business skills. • Utilize Credit: Leveraging institutional financial instruments like Mudra loans can successfully fund the inception of micro-enterprises. • Collective Strength: Uniting producers across multiple blocks scales up operations and builds commercial resilience. • Focus on Quality: Producing organic and nutritious traditional food items unlocks steady institutional markets such as anganwadi networks. https://trendkia.com/en/chhattisgarh/koriya-ki-mahilaon-ne-millets-se-sanwari-apni-kismat-53064 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.