Asha Birhor (Asha didi), 30, belongs to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and lives with her husband and 4 children in Birhor Toli of Lohardaga district. 

Till last year, the entire family would migrate to Uttar Pradesh under distress and work in a brick kiln for six months as their only source of income, forcing Asha didi's two sons to drop out of school.

This year, Asha didi agreed to participate in our ultra poor program just as the family was about to migrate. Over weekly household visits, orientation meetings, confidence-building exercises and consumption support over the last 6 months, didi has successfully completed activities like raising a kitchen garden, nutrition awareness training and initiating her own business. Today, her kitchen garden brings dietary diversity in her family’s meals and contributes some earnings. 

Our CDO, Sukdeb, has helped didi plan for and open a grocery shop to get regular income. didi earns a daily profit of Rs 100 from the shop on average and plans to add more profitable items to increase daily sales.  Her sons have started going to school again, and her family has received approval to construct their new home through Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). didi is quite confident and hopeful now.