๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ
In Orial village of Gaya district in Bihar, Panika Kumariโs journey shows how rural women can become leaders of change when given the right opportunities.
Panika lives in a 12-member joint family where agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Her husband works with an NGO, but irregular income often made it difficult to manage household needs, childrenโs education, farm expenses and elder care. Like many women in rural households, Panika had limited recognition and little role in decision-making. Yet she was determined to improve her familyโs situation.
Her journey began during the COVID period when she connected with Swayam Shikshan Prayog through clean energy initiatives. Regular participation in community meetings gradually built her confidence. She soon became a Sakhi, leading the distribution of clean energy products in her village and neighbouring areas.
Entrepreneurship Development Training facilitated by Swayam Shikshan Prayog became a turning point. Panika went on to mentor 25 women from 25 villages as clean energy entrepreneurs. Under her leadership, households began adopting improved cookstoves, biogas units and other energy-efficient solutions.
Panika also played an active role in promoting Women-led Climate Resilient Farming (WCRF). She supported 250 women farmers to adopt climate-resilient farming practices and diversify their livelihoods. As a result, 90 women started mushroom farming, 15 women engaged in livestock activities under Jal Chhajan Yojana, and 72 women began goatery, poultry and other micro-enterprises through Satat Jivikoparjan Yojana (Regular Livelihood Scheme). She also helped 12 women start vermicompost production and facilitated improved seeds for 125 women farmers.
Today, Panika earns about โน10,000 per month through her clean energy enterprise and โน3,000 as a Sakhi. With climate-resilient farming practices, her familyโs farm income has also increased by โน20,000โ25,000 annually.
Panika now envisions rural women leading clean energy and climate-resilient livelihoods across Bihar.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
16 March, 2026