Ms. Bhumi Puri Chaudhary, 23, used to spend most of her time on household chores, leaving her with little opportunity for learning or exposure to the outside world. She was not well acquainted with the people in her village and had limited interaction beyond her daily routine.

When Bhumi first heard that MCDS was forming a Self-Help Group (SHG) for women’s empowerment, she was not interested. Having seen similar groups in the village that failed to bring real change, she was skeptical. However, encouraged by her friends, she reluctantly joined the Sudhar Women Group. Initially, she attended meetings only to accompany her friends, but over time, she began to enjoy the discussions and activities. Each meeting introduced her to new ideas and learning experiences. As she grew in confidence and skills, the group members recognized her potential and elected her as the group’s president.

Reflecting on her journey, Bhumi shared,

“After joining this group, I learned vegetable farming, which helped me contribute to my family’s income. I also participated in public awareness programmes, school and public space clean-up events, and flower plantation activities in collaboration with child clubs. These experiences gave me valuable exposure and strengthened my leadership skills.”

The group’s impact extended beyond Bhumi. One of its members, Asha Chaudhary, was elected president of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at Kanchan Secondary School, where she actively contributes to the school’s development and management.

Today, the group is more active than ever, creating action plans and encouraging broader community participation. This year, they officially registered as Shree Sudhar Mahila Krishak Samuha (Sudhar Women Farmers’ Group) at the municipality office—marking a significant step toward sustainability.

“Now, we have the opportunity to collaborate with the local government and organizations like MCDS to make a lasting impact in our community,” Bhumi said with pride.