Dasami, aged 38, belongs to the cultivator’s family of Bhujabal village in Kolnara block of Rayagada district. She used to help her husband in agricultural work. Both the couple was happily managing a six-membered family including 3 sons and a daughter with the earning out of cultivation. Unfortunately, Dasami lost her husband in a road accident 11 months back. Being widow, the entire burden of earning and educating the kids was on her shoulder. There was no other way for her than going out in search of job as daily wage labour. But as she belongs to Gouda (milkman) caste, her community did not allow her to work with the people of lower castes. Even she was warned, if she violates the social norm, her family will be isolated from the community.

With the intervention of CYSD Child Development Project team and after several rounds of discussions with the community leaders she was allowed to work outside, but she was scared of the isolation. Hence, she got herself engaged in household cultivation and in the fields of her neighbours as agricultural labour. During the last Ravi Season, she was provided with input support, like capacity building, vegetable seeds, Poles, G.I. wires and fencing materials to start intensive vegetable cultivation following Trellis method. She worked hard and abled to manage her family out of the income from vegetable crops.

During the Corona Pandemic, it was a great challenge for Dasami to maintain her family as the vegetable garden, the only source of income, was unattended owing to lock down. Due to lack of irrigation and non-availability of labour to look after, the vegetable plans dried up. Seeing her misery, she was facilitated to make job demand under MGNREGA. Immediately Dasami was provided work in village road construction which was indeed a great support to address to save her kits from starvation.

In the ongoing Kharif Season she has been supported with Paddy Seeds, Organic Manure and Vegetable Seeds for cultivation in her own land. Besides, she is linked with Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) and MGREGS for developing Nutrition Garden under ‘Mo Bagicha’ programme.  By now, she has completed transplanting of paddy.  By selling vegetables in local market, grown in her own land, she is earning Rs.500/- on every alternate day. She has also completed 36 man-days work under MGNREGS and received the total labour payment.

“I am indeed thankful to CYSD Programme Team for extending timely support to my family, motivating the community leaders to allow me for working as a daily wage labour getting out of gender barrier and providing input support to carry forward household agriculture and vegetable cultivation”, shared Dasami cheerfully.