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  • Story

·

4 min read

From Water to Wealth: Janwari’s Leadership Story

Ulirajbasa Village, Khutpani Block, West Singhbhum District, Jharkhand
Water Conservation
Integrated Farming
Janwari Banra beside the pond at the centre of her Integrated Farming System.

Janwari Banra, 37, once balanced farm work and household duties like any other woman in her village. In 2022, she was selected as a Mate under MGNREGA — a role that would transform both her income and her village’s water security.

  • The Challenge

With limited education and resources, Janwari supported her husband in agriculture and managed household responsibilities. When she was selected as a Mate under MGNREGA in 2022, she faced early resistance, as most villagers were unaware of MNREGA schemes and their benefits.

  • The Turning Point

Undeterred, Janwari educated people through Tola Sabhas and women’s group meetings, spreading awareness about their rights under MNREGA. She went on to implement the Birsa Irrigation Well and Birsa Harit Gram Yojana schemes, leading the construction of 2 irrigation wells, Harit Gram Yojana plantation on 4 acres, and 4,500 RFT of embankment work for soil and water conservation — work that also generated employment for local labourers.

Embankment and plantation work
Embankment and plantation work completed under Janwari’s leadership.
  • The Change

With guidance from the JIWI DAA HASA Project, Janwari adopted an Integrated Farming System on her pond, combining fish farming with vegetable cultivation and duck rearing. In 2023–24, this earned her ₹1,44,000 in total: ₹50,000 from fish, ₹30,000 from ducks, and the rest from papaya, brinjal, okra, and khesari greens. The model turned her into a symbol of self-reliance in her community.

Outcomes at a glance
Irrigation wells built
2
Harit Gram Yojana
4 acres planted
Embankment work
4,500 RFT
IFS income (2023–24)
₹1,44,000 total
Top earners
fish ₹50,000, ducks ₹30,000, greens ₹31,000
Janwari vegetable plot
Janwari in her vegetable plot, part of her Integrated Farming System.
  • Looking Ahead

Janwari’s story continues to inspire rural women across her region to rise, lead, and bring meaningful water and livelihood changes to their own communities.

More stories from the field

Read how communities across the tribal belt are building new livelihoods.

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  • Story

·

4 min read

Fallow No More: Aghanmoti’s Rabi Harvest

Aghanmoti Rathia’s one acre used to lie fallow every Rabi season. This year it grew groundnut, sunflower, greens, and gourd.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

From Loss to Livelihood: Bimla’s Goat Enterprise

Bimla Rathia had given up goat rearing after disease wiped out her herd. Training and support rebuilt it into her family’s most reliable income.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

From Paddy to Profit: Ram Pyari’s Watermelon Story

Ram Pyari once earned about ₹23,040 a year growing paddy. Within one watermelon season, she nearly matched that in profit alone.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

Fallow No More: Aghanmoti’s Rabi Harvest

Aghanmoti Rathia’s one acre used to lie fallow every Rabi season. This year it grew groundnut, sunflower, greens, and gourd.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

From Loss to Livelihood: Bimla’s Goat Enterprise

Bimla Rathia had given up goat rearing after disease wiped out her herd. Training and support rebuilt it into her family’s most reliable income.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

From Paddy to Profit: Ram Pyari’s Watermelon Story

Ram Pyari once earned about ₹23,040 a year growing paddy. Within one watermelon season, she nearly matched that in profit alone.

Read the story
See all stories