"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."

- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

#maoist

Star Citizens

Overcoming Adversity: Braveheart from Sukma District Shines, Lands Job at Prestigious UK Health University

In a remarkable display of determination and resilience, Riya Philip, a 24-year-old girl hailing from the Maoist-affected Sukma district, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a job at a prestigious Health University in the United Kingdom. Riya's inspiring journey from a strife-torn region to an international career opportunity serves as a shining example of triumph over adversity. Born and raised in the Maoist stronghold of Dornapal, located 450 kilometers south of Raipur, Riya completed her early education in Dornapal and pursued higher secondary education in Jagdalpur. Despite the financial challenges faced by her family, Riya's father, Sanju, a local school bus driver, wholeheartedly supported her ambitions. Riya's dream of serving people in the healthcare sector, inspired by her grandmother, led her to pursue a B.Sc. in Nursing. Her family made significant sacrifices, including mortgaging their home, to ensure Riya's education. After completing her nursing course, she joined Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, where she continued her studies alongside her hospital work. Filled with determination and armed with new knowledge, Riya successfully qualified for the Occupational English Test (OET) and secured a coveted position as a professional nurse at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in Wales, UK. Her monthly salary of Rs 1.80 lakh is a testament to her hard work and dedication. Riya's journey serves as proof to the power of education, determination, and unwavering support. Her success story is a ray of hope for individuals facing similar challenges, proving that with dedication and resilience, dreams can be turned into reality.  

9 Aug 2023
Star Citizens

The Incredible Journey of the Woman Who Dug 93 Ponds and Empowered 2,000 Women in India's Maoist Heartland

Anyone who believes in the power of grit and perseverance should find great inspiration in Akli Tudu's life. This 35-year-old woman from the Maoist stronghold of Gudabandha in Jharkhand, India, was abandoned by her husband and threatened by Maoists. She has accomplished a feat that has won her accolades far and wide. When Akli’s husband deserted her, she returned to her maternal home and with her inner strength and confidence she integrated over 2,000 women from 120 villages and helped them become financially independent. She also played a crucial role in getting nearly 100 ponds constructed and over 1,159 ponds revived by lending technical know-how to farmers and involving village women in the tasks. She had to face several challenges, though, and her journey was not easy. The Tagore Society visited Akli's hamlet in 2012 to organize self-help organizations. Due to the effects of water scarcity on farmers, she joined the group and later dabbled in irrigation. But, Maoists who were opposed to her efforts threatened her life when she sought assistance with irrigation facilities. Notwithstanding these obstacles, Akli set up a trust and got financing for pond construction from CINI and the Tata Steel Foundation. Her work has had a good impact in Gudabandha, which was once a Maoist-affected region before she started working on pond-based integrated farming systems. She took on the Maoists on her own to make village women financially independent. Akli, who serves as the chairperson of APC Gharanj Lahanti Mahila Utpadak Producer Limited Company, has aided farmers in raising their revenue by buying their goods in bulk and reselling them to consumers. According to their contributions, the profit is divided among the women, and on average, ladies make close to Rs15,000 every month. Akli's work has not gone unnoticed, and she has received several awards, including the Social Award, Women Entrepreneur Farmer Award, Water Champion Award, and Best EPC Award from NABARD. Akli's work has truly made a difference, and she has set an example for everyone who believes in empowering women and improving the lives of farmers. Her journey is nothing short of a superhero film, and we can all learn from her determination and perseverance.

10 Mar 2023
Star Citizens

Positive Reads

Gumla's Silent Revolution: Ragi Cultivation Transforms Lives of Farmers

Gumla, a former Maoist hotbed in Jharkhand, is experiencing a remarkable transformation as thousands of farmers embrace the cultivation of Ragi, a crop once considered worthless. This silent revolution has been made possible by the district administration's initiative, led by former deputy commissioner Sushant Gaurav, which distributed free high-quality Ragi seeds to over 25,000 farmers, covering 30,000 acres of land. The outstanding success of this endeavor earned Gumla the prestigious 'Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration.' Previously reliant on rain-fed one-crop agriculture focused on paddy, Gumla's economy has now shifted to cultivating high-quality Ragi on a vast scale. Ragi-based products such as laddoos, bhujia, mixture, and flour have contributed to addressing malnutrition issues as Ragi is rich in protein, calcium, and iron. Remarkably, Ragi processing units are exclusively owned and operated by self-help groups (SHGs) of women, churning out daily productions of one tonne of Ragi flour, 300 packets of laddoos, and 200 packets of snacks under the brand 'Johar.' Guidance and support were provided to the farmers at various stages of cultivation, with the produce collected from 17 centers and transported to Ragi processing centers equipped with machines of varying capacities. The sudden surge in demand for Ragi prompted the procurement of 50 tonnes of high-quality Ragi seeds from Karnataka, which were distributed among the farmers and sown across 3,600 acres of land the following year. This remarkable success in Gumla's Ragi cultivation is seen as a self-sustaining model and has led to the establishment of the first Ragi processing center in Jharkhand. Ragi-based products not only address malnutrition and anemia but also offer a lucrative income source for farmers, with the cultivation area expanding from 1,500 to 3,500 hectares. Gumla's silent revolution in Ragi cultivation is poised to become a thriving business model for the entire country, setting an inspiring example of agricultural transformation and rural empowerment.

9 Aug 2023
Positive Reads

Archives