𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Megha Kelaskar’s story is one of transformation—a journey that continues to inspire her local community. Megha lives in Dhanora, a small village in Maharashtra’s Wardha district. Life in her village, like in many others, was shaped by challenges such as underutilized farmland, malnutrition, and changing climatic conditions.
Megha’s family owned five acres of land, but it wasn’t yielding much. In April 2024, when Swayam Shikshan Prayog SSP (SSP) visited her village to introduce and promote climate-resilient farming practices, Megha was convinced to join their training. She became part of SSP’s women-led climate-resilient farming models, driven by curiosity to transform her family’s land and improve their livelihood.
During the 10-day training, Megha learned about the connection between responsible farming and nutrition. She gained insights into addressing malnutrition, especially among women and children, and how adaptive farming techniques and small changes could significantly mitigate climate risks.
Empowered by this knowledge, Megha established a circular nutrition garden in her backyard. This small but impactful initiative included 14 varieties of vegetables and pulses, such as brinjal, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, fenugreek, coriander, cluster beans, peanuts, chillies, tomatoes, broad beans, onions, potatoes, cauliflower, and cabbage. The garden provided her family with year-round access to fresh, nutritious food.
But Megha didn’t stop there. She mobilized 30 other women in her village, encouraging them to create their own nutrition gardens. Together, these women transformed the landscape, producing enough vegetables to meet not only their families’ needs but also those of the entire village.
Megha also adopted eco-friendly practices to protect her crops. She prepared Dashparni Ark, a natural bio-pesticide, to control pests without harming the environment. The surplus produce from her garden now generates an additional source of income. Megha earns INR 1,500–1,600 monthly from regular sales and INR 5,000–6,000 during seasonal peaks.
Today, Megha’s farmland is a thriving space that yields vegetables and pulses throughout the year. Her efforts have not only improved her family’s health but have also sparked a community-led initiative. Megha’s journey demonstrates that with the right knowledge and determination, even small steps can lead to significant change.
As Megha puts it, “I am very happy to guide other women in my village and spread the message of healthy food habits and leading a healthy life.”
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
December 02, 2024