From Struggling Mother to Empowering Leader for Her Daughter’s Future

Driven by an unwavering zeal to provide her daughter with a better future, Ankita Munda, a farmer from Hersinghjote village in West Bengal, has transformed her life and her community through the support of Caritas India’s Uttoran Project. Her dedication pushed her to break free from poverty and led her to become a powerful change agent for her entire village. What started as a personal journey to secure her daughter’s future has now evolved into a mission to uplift other women and families around her.

Ankita’s transformation began when she realized that traditional farming methods and relying solely on paddy crops would never be enough to support her family’s needs. Struggling to make ends meet, she was determined to find a way to secure her daughter’s education and future. This determination pushed her to seek out new opportunities, and when she heard about the Seva Kendra Siliguri (SKS) and the Caritas India Uttoran Project, she eagerly embraced the chance to change her life.

Through the Uttoran Project, Ankita learned about crop diversification, which allowed her to grow more than just paddy, as well as alternative livelihoods like mushroom cultivation, tailoring, and handicrafts. Her dedication to improving her family’s situation saw her mastering these new skills, which provided a steady income even during the off-season. With the extra income, Ankita was able to ensure her daughter stayed in school and received the opportunities she had always dreamed of.

However, Ankita’s success did not stop with her own family. Inspired by the empowerment she felt, she became a village volunteer and was later appointed leader of a Self-Help Group (SHG), where she used her knowledge to help other women in her village. Through her leadership, she connected her community with government schemes like Krishi Bandhu, which provided financial support to small-scale farmers and further improved their livelihoods.

What sets Ankita apart is not just her personal transformation but her drive to be the change agent for her entire community. She leveraged her own success to uplift others, sharing her knowledge and encouraging women to join self-help groups, gain financial independence, and improve their farming techniques. Her zeal to provide a better life for her daughter became the spark that ignited a broader movement of empowerment and change in her village.

Caritas India journeyed with Ankita, providing her with the tools, resources, and confidence to not only change her own life but to empower others. Their holistic approach—focused on sustainable livelihood development, modern farming techniques, and community empowerment—enabled Ankita to become a leader and role model.

Ankita’s commitment to securing her daughter’s future and the guidance provided by Caritas India turned her into a powerful force for change in her community. Today, Ankita continues to inspire others, proving that with the right support, anyone can become a catalyst for positive change.