The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has highlighted how its lending schemes are helping rural women set up income-generating activities. A Self-Help Group in West Bengal used a loan to start greenhouse farming and now earns steady monthly income, showing the impact of targeted financial support.
The scheme and what happened
Maa Lakshmi Mahila Samiti, a group of 11 women in Purulia district, West Bengal, received Rs. 1 lakh under the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana of the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC). The West Bengal Scheduled Castes Development Corporation (WBSCDC) disbursed the loan on 5 February 2025.
Before the loan, group members had no regular income and faced financial instability. They learned about the scheme from the district office of the West Bengal Scheduled Castes Development Corporation and applied to start greenhouse farming on leased land. The capital enabled them to begin cultivation and establish a shared livelihood source.
Through organised effort, the greenhouse farming activity became successful. Each member now earns between Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 8,000 per month from the activity. The additional income has strengthened their household finances and given them greater ability to meet family needs.
What this means for you
If you are a rural woman in a Self-Help Group with limited access to bank loans, the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana offers a pathway to borrow affordable capital for starting agricultural or other income-generating work. Contact your district office or the state scheduled castes development corporation to learn whether you can apply. The scheme shows that with proper institutional backing and your own effort, small groups can transform irregular earnings into stable monthly income that improves family welfare and builds financial confidence.