When women start eating healthy, everything changes—from their health to their confidence
From the heart of Majara village in Wardha district, Maharashtra, Savita Kathane is leading a quiet revolution. A homemaker and mother of two, Savita has become a driving force for change in her community through her work with Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP).
Over the past year and a half, Savita has worked tirelessly to transform the health and hygiene habits of her village. Through regular training, home visits, and morning walks promoting clean living, she helped over 50 women become more aware of personal and family hygiene. Her outreach also involved schools, local leaders, and health workers—creating a web of support that brought lasting behavioral change.
But health was just the beginning. With SSP’s guidance, Savita turned to climate-resilient farming as a way to improve family nutrition and reduce dependency on market produce. On her small plot, she now grows 14 types of organic vegetables—from spinach and brinjal to bitter gourd and chickpea—using natural fertilizers like Jeevamrut, Agniastra, Dashparni, and vermicompost (of which she now produces 400–500 kg herself).
This shift not only improved her family’s diet but also saved them ₹7000–8000 in vegetable expenses. Inspired by her garden, 20 other women started their own kitchen gardens. Today, 25–30 women regularly grow and consume organic food at home—cutting costs on both fertilizers and hospital visits.
Savita didn’t stop there. She worked with the Gram Panchayat to submit a village development action plan, connected with the Agriculture Department for seeds and schemes, and even facilitated HB testing for women in the village.
“When women start eating healthy, everything changes—from their health to their confidence,” says Savita.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
3rd June, 2025