I am Lata and I live in Vadodara-Zala near GHCL’s Soda Ash Plant, Sutrapada in Gujarat. We are five members in the family including three school going children. We had migrated to Rajkot for better education and livelihood in the urban area. We worked hard for 7 years but survival was very tough. Hope for good time gives energy to face struggle. But, my husband had a paralytic stroke five years ago. I was struggling for his treatment and survival in the city.

We have 3 bigha land in our native village. So, we returned to the village with the expectation that will be able to survive and make ends meet through farming. But, I did not have the knowledge and skills for farming and animal husbandry.

I attended a meeting called by GHCL Foundation on Animal Husbandry and realised that with their help, I could convert this into an opportunity for self-employment. I purchased a cow by borrowing money. My family got milk as a food and we were able to earn some income by selling the milk. With the guidance and support of the Foundation, I started organic farming on my small piece of land. The Foundation provided training and exposure visits to Agriculture University, Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Amul Dairy, Anand. It provided me a business outlook.

Now I can provide treatment to my husband and survival of my family has become easier. I feel more courageous now and I have managed to save money and buy another cow and two buffalo calves. In addition, I have also taken two bigha land on lease for farming.