Ranchi: Saihun Lakra, a 37-year-old woman in Ranchi's Lada village, had to depend on her husband for her small needs or take loans, to run her family. But her life has taken a turn since she has started getting financial assistance under the Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana (MMSY).

Now, she not only fulfils her needs but also helps her husband in buying essentials for his paddy field, with the assistance.Saihun invested the money from the welfare scheme in poultry farming and earned modest returns by selling eggs and chickens. "I started poultry farming in October last year by investing Rs 2,000 to buy 20 chicks. After around three months, I sold some and earned Rs 5,000. Besides, I earn around Rs 1,000 a month by selling eggs.

I fulfil the needs of my family and help my husband in agriculture," she told TOI.Like Saihun, many others have also embarked on entrepreneurial ventures through poultry farming and goatery, aiming to achieve economic self-reliance. Roushni Kachhap of Kesaro village bought three goats with the Maiya Samman amount and now hopes to earn a modest sum by selling a pair once they grow up. "I always dreamt of starting my own business, but could not due to economic constraints.

The govt scheme renewed my hopes. I purchased goats in April and have been taking good care of them so that I can earn a good sum by selling them after they grow up," Roushni said.The Ranchi administration has further bolstered this initiative with the ‘Maiya Samman to Mahila Swabalamban' programme, distributing chicks, goats and ducks at minimal costs to empower women and supplement their family's income. Ranchi DC Manjunath Bhajantri, who envisioned the first-of-its-kind initiative in the state, told TOI that the primary focus behind the initiative is to promote the wise use of the amount received under the scheme and prevent the beneficiaries from falling into cybercriminals' trap. "We aim to multiply Rs 2,500 they get under the scheme by at least 10 times. The district administration has conducted several programmes, in co-ordination with SHGs, to motivate women to venture into entrepreneurship. This way, they will not only be able to extend a helping to their families but also contribute to the state's growth," the DC added.So far, 5,170 beneficiaries have got chicks, 1,048 got goats, and 853 got ducks under the initiative, in 18 blocks of Ranchi district.