My husband and I always dreamed big for our children, aspirations we never had the chance to fulfill ourselves. We got married young—he was 17 and I was 15—and never finished school. But we wanted a different future for our kids.
We sent them to a private school, even though the fees were high. We believed that the best education would open doors for them, that they would learn, grow, and eventually work in big companies. It filled us with pride to see them go to school and speak in English.
My husband’s tea shop was our only source of income. In our small village, business is tough. He barely made Rs. 8000 – 9000 a month, working from early morning till late at night. Though he never showed it, I could see how exhausted he was.
As a mother, I felt it was my duty too to help secure our children’s future. After talking to a didi in our village, I started working as a JEEViKA Didi. Every day, I traveled to different villages, teaching new mothers how to care for their newborns and the importance of nutritious food. I earned about Rs. 5000 a month. It wasn’t much, but every rupee counted.
As the years passed, our children grew up, and we sent them to study in the city. When my husband’s shop suffered a loss, he had to close it. We had borrowed money to pay our children’s college fees, and with his shop closed, we struggled to repay the loan and support our children.
One day, while I was training women in our village, I saw a mushroom farm at one of their homes. I was curious and wanted to know more. The didi told me that mushroom farming required little time and, with a small investment of Rs. 300, provided her with an extra income.
She connected me with Majnu sir of Dr. Reddy’s Foundation. He provided training for me and 30 other women. We learned how to cultivate mushrooms, the necessary precautions, and how to pack and sell them. At the end of the training, we received a free kit of seeds, fertilizers, and plastic bags. My husband and I spent two days planting the seeds in a small room in our house. I dedicated two hours every morning and evening to check them, ensuring they were neither too wet nor too dry, and adding fertilizer when needed. After 21 days, we harvested our first crop.
After expenses, I earned Rs. 25,000.
This extra income made a great difference in our lives. For the first time in months, we didn’t have to borrow money or worry about paying our bills. We could send money to our children without taking on more debt. My husband also bought some supplies and reopened his shop. We save a small portion of the mushrooms for ourselves and sell the rest within our Jeevika community. My family loves mushroom sabzi.
I now share my knowledge of mushroom farming with other women in our JEEViKA community. I believe it can help them earn extra money and become more independent. Many women in our village struggle financially, and I believe this could make their lives easier.
Every morning, I woke up with a dream for my children. Instead of relying solely on my husband to send them to school, I took the first step. I started working. It encouraged me to take another step, and then another. When my husband had to shut his tea shop, I held on to hope. I found ways to earn and to support my family. We should all believe in our capacity to succeed. No matter the obstacles, if we have the determination, we will find ways to overcome them.
