States » NorthPosted at: Oct 5 2026 11:28PM


Chhattisgarh: Lemongrass fragrance spreads message of self-reliance and economic empowerment among women

Shishir Roy
Raipur, Oct 5 (UNI) A new fragrance of self-reliance is spreading across the scenic landscape of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (GPM) district, in northwestern Chhattisgarh.
Beyond the aroma of lemongrass, the fields of Amaru are reflecting a story of economic empowerment, collective enterprise and new aspirations among rural women.
Women from Bihan-linked Self-Help Groups in Gram Amaru have begun cultivating lemongrass as a new livelihood activity, taking a step towards the goal of becoming ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
Once primarily engaged in managing household responsibilities within limited family incomes, these women are now coming together to explore agriculture and self-employment opportunities that can strengthen their families’ economic foundations.
The initiative reflects the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to economically empower rural women and enable women associated with Self-Help Groups to become ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the Chhattisgarh Government is working to translate this vision into livelihood opportunities at the grassroots.
Through convergence of Central and State schemes, women are being connected with Self-Help Groups and provided the financial aid, bank linkages, training and new avenues for income generation.
In Gram Amaru of Pendra Janpad Panchayat, women from 10 Self-Help Groups have collectively taken up lemongrass cultivation across approximately 20 acres.
The participating groups include Jyoti Mahila Group, Mahamaya Group, Jai Santoshi Mata Group and Honey Group, among others.
The initiative goes beyond cultivation. It seeks to make better use of locally available land and resources while creating a sustainable rural livelihood model driven by collective effort.
Lemongrass is an aromatic and medicinal plant whose oil is used in a range of products.
The women of Amaru are preparing to extract oil from their produce and market it through open markets and medicinal institutions, creating possibilities for greater value addition and income.
Gayatri Kashipuri, a member of Jyoti Mahila Group, said 11 members of her group are cultivating lemongrass with the support of the Plant Medicine Board.
The group plans to extract the oil and sell it in markets and to medicinal institutions.
The oil is used in tea, perfumes and various medicinal products.
Gayatri said the women are enthusiastic about expanding lemongrass cultivation in the coming years.
Sushila Bhanu of Mahamaya Group, Pabariya Bhanu of Jai Santoshi Mata Group and Pooja Dhruv of Honey Group said joining the Bihan scheme had opened several new livelihood avenues for women.
The groups have received a ₹15,000 revolving fund, ₹60,000 Community Investment Fund and bank linkage support.
With this financial assistance and the strength of collective enterprise, women are now engaged not only in lemongrass cultivation but also in activities such as centering plate businesses, tent houses, vegetable gardens, grocery shops, goat rearing and poultry farming.
These activities are helping increase women’s individual incomes, strengthen household finances and build greater confidence in taking economic and family decisions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the goal of increasing the annual income of rural women associated with Self-Help Groups and enabling them to become ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
In Chhattisgarh, the State Government is also placing emphasis on connecting rural women with self-employment and income-generating activities.
The lemongrass initiative in Amaru represents a promising step in this direction.
With stronger arrangements for processing and marketing alongside production, the activity has the potential to become a regular and sustainable source of income for participating women.
The initiative in Amaru presents a human face of the positive changes taking place in the rural economy.
Women whose hands have long carried the responsibilities of their homes are now cultivating lemongrass and exploring new avenues of economic self-reliance.
The collective strength of Self-Help Groups, support from government schemes and the women’s own hard work are coming together to create new livelihood opportunities in the village.
The women of Amaru are emerging as an important link between the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ vision and grassroots economic empowerment.
The fragrance of lemongrass is therefore travelling beyond the fields. It carries with it the confidence of women, the economic aspirations of their families and the promise of a more self-reliant rural Chhattisgarh.
UNI SRC RN
Tags: #Chhattisgarh: Lemongrass fragrance spreads message of self-reliance and economic empowerment among women
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