A tribal youth returnee migrant, Sushant Singh, who hails from Ankura village in Keonjhar district turned into a successful Mushroom Cultivator in his locality, does not wish go back to resume his job in an Organic Plastic Company based in Sahapur of Mumbai. His hard work, ability, innovation and experimentation pulls him to stay back in native place.

Ankura is a remote village in Patna block of Keonjhar district. Sushant is the second son of Mr. Paramananda Singh, a smallholder farmer of the village whose primary source of income is cultivation. Being a poor farmer, he was facing much difficulty to maintain his 8 membered family out of the income from agriculture. Sushanta could realize the financial need of his family and after completion of higher secondary education in 2004 he decided to find a job to reduce the financial pressure on his father. One fine day, without thinking for higher study, he left for Mumbai in search of a job. Fortunately, with the support of his friends, he was absorbed in an Organic Plastic Company over there with a meager remuneration of Rs. 1800/- per month. After two years he returned to his home and chose to join a Security Agency in Joda, an industrial town of Keonhjhar, but the job did not satisfy him. Again he made of his mind to rejoin the Mumbai based Organic Plastic factory and resumed work there.

But, he had to work for 12 hours per day to earn a salary of Rs. 9000/- per month. He tried to supplement the income of his family to the extent possible, but always feeling loneliness due to detachment from his family for long time. So he visited his home in March 2020, but could not go back Mumbai due to Covid pandemic lockdown and shutdown declared by the Government. But, Sushant never imagined that the Pandemic would bring a turning point in his life and livelihoods.

In the meantime, with the support of Give India, CYSD had initiated imparting reskilling training to selected returnee migrants on Agri allied sector including women members of SHGs is different rural-tribal districts of Odisha. While the members of Maa Tarini SHG of Ankura village were undergoing Mushroom Training at the Rural Livelihoods Training Centre (RLTC) of CYSD based in Saharapada block of Keonjhar, Sushant got to know about it from Ms. Malati Sethy, a member of the SHG. “Where there is a will there is a way”. Sushanta’s curiosity to know more about CYSD and on mushroom training could not break him to visit the RLTC. He witnessed the group undergoing the training and interacted with the CYSD programme team too. The programme activities, production process and the environment of RLTC attracted him very much. In December 2020, Sushanta joined a 7-day training course on Mushroom Cultivation at RLTC. He completed the training successfully with all sincerity demonstrating his capability for which he was appreciated by the Trainer.

As practice makes a man perfect, Sushant initiated mushroom cultivation at his backyard in a small way with 5 beds and the result was wonderful. Out of 5 beds he produced 5 kgs of Mushroom and earned RS. 1000/. This one thousand rupees motivated Sushant’s family for undertaking mushroom cultivation in large scale. Presently he is preparing 8 beds a day and getting 9 – 10 kgs of mushroom. This is how, he is earning around Rs. 1500/- per day excluding the material cost. During last 3 and half months he has been able to save Rs. 45000/- in the bank after meeting the family requirements. Now, he plans to develop a permanent shed for mushroom cultivation. Seeing is believing. Observing the success of Sushanta, 50 poor families from the Panchayat have initiated mushroom cultivation following his guidance. Ankura village and adjoining villages have become a “center of mushroom growers” now. His determination and dedicated effort has established a position for him in the society, being called as ‘Mushroom Guru’ in his locality.

While conveying his gratitude to CYSD, Sushant shares, “It gives me immense satisfaction when 50 fellow farmers offer their compliments to me and share their feelings on enhanced income. There is no need of unemployed youth to go outside for just hand to month earning, but better to be self-reliant in respective village. I am committed to extend all possible support and cooperation to the poor farmers towards bringing new hopes and openings in their life and livelihoods”.