Exploring Alternate Livelihood Options with Mothers’ Group

On 28th August 2025, the Nari Shakti Project team conducted a focused workshop with the Mothers’ Group at Manmathanagar, engaging 25 mothers and 2 adolescent participants in a discussion on sustainable and low-cost livelihood opportunities. The session was designed to inspire women and families to adopt practices that strengthen economic resilience while utilising the limited resources available in the village.

The workshop highlighted practical methods such as kitchen gardening, mixed cropping, and small-scale animal husbandry, which can be started with minimal investment yet bring meaningful returns for household sustenance and income generation. Special emphasis was placed on the use of organic and locally available resources, making these options both affordable and environment-friendly.

A significant outcome of the session was the creation of a crop calendar prepared collectively by the mothers. This tool will guide them in choosing the right crops for each season, planning better harvests, and ensuring year-round food security for their families. Such participatory planning not only builds technical knowledge but also nurtures confidence and collective ownership among the women.

The inclusion of adolescents in the workshop further strengthened intergenerational learning, ensuring that skills and awareness are shared across age groups. Their participation also reflected a growing recognition that youth play a vital role in shaping sustainable futures for their communities.

The programme concluded with an interactive reflection, where mothers expressed their enthusiasm to practice what they had learned and explore opportunities for scaling these initiatives into income-generating activities.

“Sowing skills today, harvesting security tomorrow.”

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