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Bhubaneswar,11/07/2025(Odisha Samachar/ Rajat Mohapatra)-In the quiet tribal hamlet of Krushnachandrapur in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, the story of Kabita Singh, a 50-year-old woman from the Santal community, is one that echoes resilience, transformation, and hope.
Just a few years ago, Kabita’s life was defined by uncertainty. With limited means and no steady source of income, she struggled to provide for her family. The rains would leak through the roof of her dilapidated home, and sending her children to school felt like an impossible luxury. There were days when even the most basic needs, like proper meals or access to clean sanitation, seemed far out of reach.
But in her struggle, Kabita found purpose. Her journey toward financial independence began when she joined the Mother Teresa Self-Help Group (SHG). Through the support of Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) and access to schemes like the Community Investment Fund (CIF), SUBHADRA, Vulnerable Reduction Fund (VRF), and SHG Revolving Funds, Kabita started small but dreamt big. With her savings and loans, she began a modest goat and poultry farming initiative, carefully tending to each animal with the hope of building something sustainable.
Her hard work bore fruit. Today, Kabita earns an annual income of ₹1.29 lakh, and more importantly, she has become the backbone of her family. She rebuilt her home with a sturdy roof, created a safe space for her family, and funded the higher education of her children. Her daughter is a postgraduate, and her son is pursuing a BSc degree, both walking confidently toward a future Kabita could only once imagine.
Yet her impact extends beyond her household.
Kabita’s commitment to community welfare led her to champion the cause of sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission. In her capacity as a community mobilizer, she played a pivotal role in facilitating the construction of over 400 toilets in Badajoda Panchayat, ensuring dignity, safety, and hygiene for hundreds of villagers. Her leadership earned her recognition from the district administration, and her name now inspires others to lead by example.
On June 20, 2025, at the grand celebration marking one year of Odisha’s state government and eleven years of the Central Government, Kabita’s journey was honored at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar, where Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi personally felicitated her as one of five exemplary Lakhpati Didis. As she walked up to the stage, draped in her traditional attire, tears welled in her eyes, not out of sorrow, but from the overwhelming pride of having turned her life around.
Today, Kabita Singh is not just a Lakhpati Didi, she is a symbol of Viksit Odisha and Viksit Bharat. Her story is a living reminder that when women are empowered with the right resources, training, and encouragement, they don’t just transform their lives, they uplift entire communities.
And in Mayurbhanj, Kabita’s name continues to inspire a new generation of tribal women to believe, to begin, and to become.
