Empowered through Self-Help: Kesanta’s Journey to Financial Freedom

Kesanta, a 35-year-old woman from Peth Kan ka Vaas in Bandikui, Rajasthan, lived in constant financial hardship. Her husband earned a meager salary of just Rs. 1,500 per month driving a locally made tractor, while the owner pocketed around Rs. 400 daily. Desperately wanting to buy their own vehicle to improve their income, the couple lacked the funds to make it happen.

The turning point came when Kesanta joined a local Self-Help Group (SHG) initiative supported by the Discipleship Centre. As an active member, she secured a loan of Rs. 30,000, which allowed her family to purchase an old tractor. With ownership, her husband’s monthly earnings increased to Rs. 5,000. Within a few months, they reinvested their progress by selling the old vehicle and purchasing a brand-new tractor.

Today, Kesanta has fully repaid her SHG loan, and her family owns an asset that guarantees a stable, elevated income—standing as a powerful testament to how SHGs empower women and transform rural lives in Bandikui.