In Menapadar village of Anandpuri tehsil, Banswara district, Rajasthan, we find a vibrant depiction of the struggle and resilience of the tribal community. Sansa Devi Pargi, a strong woman farmer from this village, has not only transformed her own life but also played a crucial role in empowering her community. Her journey is a unique example of struggle, courage, and success.

Sansa Devi’s life began in a simple farming family. 30 years old Sansa devi and her husband, Shantilal, farmed on 5 bighas (about 2 acres) of land. Six years ago, in an effort to improve her family’s economic situation, Sansa Devi decided to start goat farming. This decision turned out to be the foundation for giving a new direction to her life and becoming an inspiration to her community.

Initially, goat farming was challenging. Sansa Devi and her husband lacked proper knowledge of goat management, leading to decreased income, and frequent illnesses and deaths of their goats. Despite her best efforts, Sansa Devi struggled to support her family through goat farming. She had no technical knowledge about the care of goats—proper diet, health care, vaccination, and breeding management were all unfamiliar to her.

This situation left her disheartened, but she wasn’t ready to give up. She wanted to do something for her family's future. It was during this time that her life took a significant turn.

In 2018, Sansa Devi decided to join a women farmers led SAKSHAM Samooh formed by VAAGDHARA, and this marked the beginning of a transformative journey for her. The group’s main goal was to promote livelihoods through collective effort, create local self-employment opportunities, and inspire self-reliance by utilizing available resources. Besides this, the group contributed to community development, health, education, and environmental protection to ensure a better and dignified life for everyone.

Kanta Damor, a community facilitator from VAAGDHARA, explained the benefits of the group to Sansa Devi and encouraged her to join. She told her how this group could not only help solve her problems but also boost her confidence.

After joining the SAKSHAM Samooh, Sansa Devi began attending monthly meetings on regularly basis. The group provided her with essential knowledge about traditional farming and its key components, as well as technical aspects of goat farming. She also learned the importance of self-reliance. By participating in the advanced goat farming training organized by the group, Sansa Devi gained crucial insights into the health, nutrition, housing, and breeding management of goats.

She learned how critical proper diet, timely vaccination, and cleanliness were to keep goats healthy. Additionally, she learned how to manage proper housing for the goats. Implementing what she had learned, Sansa Devi improved the housing conditions for her goats, making them cleaner and well-ventilated, which reduced the incidence of disease. The goats, which used to fall ill frequently, now showed a significant decline in sickness. Sansa Devi arranged a balanced diet, including green grass, grains, and minerals, and began regular vaccinations and medical check-ups for her goats.

Her efforts soon paid off. The number of goats increased from 5 to 20, and her income rose significantly. She now earns around INR 50,000 annually, providing a stable source of income for her family. Her success filled her with confidence, and she became eager to invest more in expanding her business. Goat farming was no longer just a business for her but a way to improve her family’s financial situation.

Sansa Devi’s story also inspired others in her community. She became a role model for other women in her village, sharing her experiences and knowledge with them, and encouraging them to join the self-help group. In this way, Sansa Devi not only wrote her own success story but also played a key role in bringing about positive change in her community.

Her success has motivated her to continue journey. She is currently pursuing the Basic School Teaching Certificate (BSTC) course with the goal of becoming a teacher. This decision is not only a source of inspiration for her but also for her children. Sansa Devi has proven that, with proper guidance and determination, a woman can uplift her family and make a significant contribution to the economic and social development of her community.

Sansa Devi's journey demonstrates how women can improve their conditions through the right guidance, education, and community support. Her story proves that women possess the strength to overcome any challenge if given the right opportunities. The SAKSHAM Samooh initiative not only changed Sansa Devi’s life but also taught others how women can support each other to create better lives.

Majid Khan, the technical support unit Lead at VAAGDHARA, says Sansa Devi Pagri’s story teaches us that no matter how big the challenges, hard work and proper guidance lead to success. Her journey is not just a personal success story but also a powerful example of women’s empowerment and community development. This story teaches us that when women take the right steps forward, they not only transform their own lives but also bring positive changes to society.

Sansa Devi’s inspiration, courage, and hard work have proven that any difficulty can be overcome with the right guidance and support. She has now become a role model for her community, and her story serves as inspiration for anyone who wishes to improve their livelihood and become self-reliant. Thus, her story is an inspiration of hope for all rural women who seek to bring change in their lives and contribute to the development of their communities. Her journey shows that success is not only about economic prosperity but also lies in self-reliance and community development.