Donjingkyrmen Siangshai was born with birth defects in both hands. Since childhood he was under parental care but as the time passed his parents grew older and passed away. All his siblings are well settled with their families, but Donjingkyrmen was left alone after his parents expired. They have left few of acres of land for him to do agriculture at his village Thadsning in West Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya.

Even after having a source of livelihood, Donjingkyrmen at an age of 26 years was helpless to plough his land or cultivate anything due to his physical limitations.

Thadsning village was one of the operation program villages under the Caritas India’s FARM North East program implemented by Jaintia Hills Development Society (JHDS) in West Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya. In August 2021, JHDS FARM Team met Donjingkyrmen during the Covid-19 relief response program and realised his ordeal and offered to support him in whatever way possible.

FARM North East program is promoting the formation of women, youth and SHG to manage village development works and safeguard the rights of the people. The close-knitted society in Thansning has always supported each other in times of difficulty. In Thansning, the FARM NE program had promoted Treiminot SHG to manage agricultural production for profitability and prosperity.

An appeal by the FARM team of JHDS led the SHG members to come forward to help Donjingkyrmen in harvesting the paddy and other crops which was cultivated by his father a few months back. The members convened a meeting and collectively decided to help Donjingkyrmen and to continue their support even in the next year right from the cultivation till harvesting.

The members collectively share the work which makes things simple. Donjingkyrmen also join others in the field to do his bit of work.

“It’s like a blessing from God, I don’t know any other way to explain how much the Group has done for me. I almost surrendered to my fate until this SHG came to my rescue. I feel blessed,” says Donjingkyrmen. Denis Kurkalang, FARM Coordinator JHDS adds “Treiminot SHG has set an example by coming forward to help Donjingkyrmen and this would inspire others as well to serve the needy.

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