Who Is Rajkumari Devi (Kisan Chachi)? How She Built A Rural Food Processing Movement For Bihar Women

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In the heartlands of Bihar, there is one lady who made the agricultural problem of thousands turn into their financial success. Rajkumari Devi, or better known as Kisan Chachi, revolutionised the conventional home-based farming practices into an agro-processing revolution. She instilled socio-economic empowerment among rural women by making them self-sufficient and micro-entrepreneurs.

Who Is Rajkumari Devi?

Rajkumari Devi is a farmer, social entrepreneur, and Padma Shri award winner from Anandpur village in the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. Rajkumari Devi is widely known as 'Kisan Chachi' (Aunt of the Farmer) and has been instrumental in promoting organic farming and food processing. She has organised thousands of rural women into SHGs and involved them in processing, packing, and selling locally produced agricultural products.

Rajkumari Devi Early Life and Challenges

Born in a poor family, Rajkumari Devi had to suffer a lot of hardships in the form of poverty and financial crises after getting married. Her family suffered from low yields and low income through farming due to conventional methods of cultivation. To overcome the problem of poverty, she rebelled against gender norms in a conservative village environment. She entered the field of her own, utilising non-conventional ways of farming.

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How She Revolutionised Rural Food Processing

She started making homemade pickles, jams, jellies and squashes with locally available fruits such as mangoes, amla, and guava.

Through training of local women in hygiene, processing, and packaging of her products, she created a network of Self Help Groups which allowed women to earn their own incomes.

By cycling around the local marketplaces and selling her packed products herself, she removed the middlemen from her system.

Rajkumari Devi Recognition and Honours

The relentless efforts made by Kisan Chachi led to her being recognised nationally and making her village a role model of rural development:

• Padma Shri (2019): Received India’s fourth-highest civilian award for her distinguished service to agriculture and social work.

• Kisan Shree Award: Received from the Bihar state government for her innovation in farming techniques and adding value through horticulture.

• National Role Model: Highly respected as an icon of women's leadership, self-reliance, and sustainable farming throughout India.

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Conclusion 

The story of Rajkumari Devi’s transformation from a struggling housewife to a nationally recognised woman shows how innovation at the grassroots level can transform people’s lives. Kisan Chachi not only transformed her own life but also made sure that thousands of rural women living in poverty in Bihar followed suit.

Image credits: Instagram

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