๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐: ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ขโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ-๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ
Neelam Devi is 45 years old and lives in Ben Bajar village of Nalanda district, Bihar. Married and part of a small family of three, her life for many years revolved around household responsibilities. When Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) began working in her village, Neelam observed their activities from a distance, unsure of how they related to her own life.
Gradually, she began noticing visible changes around her. Women were attending trainings, discussing livelihood options, and contributing to household incomes. The most significant change she witnessed was within her own family. Her niece, Pratima Kumari, became involved in SSP-supported activities related to agriculture and clean energy. Over time, Pratimaโs confidence grew, along with her income and recognition in the community. Watching this transformation helped Neelam realise that the biggest challenge she needed to overcome was her own mindset.
Motivated by what she saw, Neelam joined SSPโs Entrepreneurship Development Programme, which introduced her to sustainable livelihoods, value addition, and clean energy solutions. Wanting to do something unique and practical, she consulted the SSP team and chose to invest in a Solar Dryer.
The Solar Dryer cost โน64,000. Neelam invested โน42,000 from her own savings and accessed a government subsidy of โน20,000. This step marked an important turning point, strengthening her confidence in using technology and formal support systems. Today, Neelam processes and solar-dries products such as pickles, papad, chips, tomatoes, drumstick (sahjan) leaves, charuri, and adhori. She sells them in local markets like Parwalpur, Ben, and Bihar Sharif, and also supplies them to other Sakhis, creating shared livelihood opportunities.
Neelam now earns โน10,000โ12,000 each monthโaround โน5,000 from solar-dried products and โน7,000 from organic fertiliser and clean energy solutions. From a housewife to a recognised rural entrepreneur, her journey reflects the power of learning, peer inspiration, and sustainable technology. Today, the โBuaโBhatijiโ duo is well known across the village and block.
โI used to stop my niece from working, thinking NGOs were not genuine. But seeing her success opened my eyes. Now, we work together, and I have my own identity as an entrepreneur using technology like Solar Dryers to earn a living.โ
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
20 December, 2025