‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana’ is not only making women financially independent but also increasing their participation in key family decisions. A shining example of this empowerment is Rajeshwari Patel, a 50-year-old resident of Kugwan village, now within Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) limits. Rajeshwari used monthly funds received under Ladli Behna Yojana to save and eventually purchase a cow, initiating a small-scale dairy business. Today, she owns four cows and earns between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month, making her family self-sufficient and leading a contented life. Her husband, Vijay Patel, used to run a small pan stall on Bhedaghat Bypass Road but struggled to support the family of four.

 

To contribute, Rajeshwari began working as a cook for mid-day meal scheme in village’s government school. When the area was incorporated into city limits and meals began being supplied from a centralised kitchen, she was assigned to serve meals to students. Later, due to the municipal corporation’s anti-encroachment drive, her husband had to shut down his stall and began working as a farm labourer. However, inconsistent work made it difficult to run the household. During this crisis, Rajeshwari decided, after discussing with her family, to start a dairy business. She already owned one cow, which produced just enough milk for family use. With the funds saved over several months from Ladli Behna Yojana, she purchased another cow. This marked the beginning of her small business. As profits grew, she gradually added two more cows to her herd.

 

Currently, her four cows yield an average of 10 to 12 litres of milk daily and she sells the milk at Rs 50 per litre to families in the village. Her son and daughter also assist in managing the dairy operations. In addition to milk sales, Rajeshwari produces ghee from surplus milk, which fetches up to Rs 900 per kilogram in the market due to high demand. She also earns additional income by making and selling dung cakes. Thanks to Ladli Bahna Yojana, Rajeshwari Patel has transformed her family’s economic situation and become a role model of self-reliance for many rural women.