With the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Mansha Devi of Gorakhpur became Lakhpati Didi. By joining self-help groups and safe mobility programs, she made more than 60 women self-reliant by giving them e-rickshaw training. Now she will meet PM Modi.
Lucknow. Women empowerment in Uttar Pradesh has now become not just a slogan but a visible reality on the ground. Inspired by the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Mansha Devi of Gorakhpur has not only made herself self-reliant but has also linked more than 60 women with employment and respectable livelihood. By joining the self-help group, Mansha Devi became Lakhpati Didi in just one year. Now she will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 26 January.
Journey from limited income to self-reliance
Mansha Devi, who once lived on a limited income, has today made a name for herself as an e-rickshaw trainer. She is working day and night with full confidence and is showing other women the path to becoming self-reliant. Her success proves that women can progress in any field when given the right guidance and opportunity.
Luck changed through self-help groups and safe mobility program
Mansha Devi, who joined the self-help group and worked as a group friend, did not have any permanent source of income earlier. After joining the Safe Mobility program, the direction of his life completely changed. Today his monthly income has reached Rs 20 to 30 thousand, resulting in an annual income of around Rs 2.5 to three lakh. This Safe Mobility Program is being operated under the contract between Development Alternatives and Livelihood Mission under the direction of Mission Director Deepa Ranjan under the State Rural Livelihood Mission.
Safe transportation opens new opportunities for women
Mansha Devi has given driving, license and entrepreneurship training to more than 60 women of Gorakhpur district including Brahmapur block. Financial support from government schemes and safe transportation environment have opened new avenues of employment for women. Today these women are driving e-rickshaws on the roads with confidence and self-respect, which testifies to the changing socio-economic environment.
Strong network created by connecting village women
There was a time when Mansha Devi had no source of income. After getting information about the schemes being run on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he decided to join the Safe Mobility Program. Today he is earning Rs 800 to Rs 1000 per day.
Mansha Devi first started training the women of her village and then gradually added women from other blocks of the district to the group and trained about 60 women. Now all these women are taking care of the responsibility of their families through regular income.
Government support gained momentum, society found a new path
Mansha Devi received financial assistance of Rs 1.25 lakh from Mudra Yojana and Rs 1 lakh from the block level, which gave new impetus to her work. Today 60 women of her group are driving e-rickshaws with confidence in a safe environment.
This mobility program is simultaneously promoting women’s safety, self-employment and self-reliance. Mansha Devi’s journey from being a group friend to becoming an e-rickshaw trainer is proof that if given the right policy, training and opportunities, rural women can advance not only themselves but the entire society.