Being a skilled person, Ranjan Mohanta from Kundala village in Mirigikhoj Panchayat of Saharapada block, Keonjhar district was working as a technician in a private company in Maharastra. His monthly income was just sufficient to meet his family’s needs. The unpredicted Corona pandemic, followed by lockdown and shutdown, has taken away his job. He was forced to come back to his native place struggling throughout his journey. A happy family’s all hopes and aspirations were ruined by the unseen virus. His family members found it challenging to meet their daily needs. Life became a living hell! Ranjan was on the verge of losing his energy and confidence. Without any livelihoods option, he completely got disappointed.

“While I was thinking about how to survive, fortunately, I got a telephone call from the Citizens’ Support Centre of CYSD, asking me whether I want to undergo reskilling on Mushroom Cultivation. I could not imagine that such an opportunity will come to me at this critical hour. Without any second thought, I replied, certainly, yes”, shares Ranjan. He enthusiastically contacted the point person, got himself registered and received the Reskill Training on Mushroom Growing being organized from 10 – 14 October 2020 (at the Rural Livelihoods Training Centre (RLTC) of CYSD at Kapundi. He got an alternative way to start-up. “Now, I have started my own set-up as a mushroom supplier and earning my livelihoods reasonably”, says Ranjan, a renewed agri-entrepreneur.