International Women's Day: Tale of true-to-life role models

Bhubaneswar: Sulochana Behera of Tikarpada, Keonjhar, every morning visits her farm with hoe and plough on shoulders. After her husband's demise 10 years back, she had the responsibility of two children.

Sulochana has become a role model for others to follow on occasion of the International Women's Day today.

Armed with toil and grit, she has created a unique identity of a successful farmer. Moreover, she has been awarded with the 'Krusak Bandhu Samman' for practising cultivation with the help of new technologies.

"I had taken up a training on how to harvest more agricultural products out of small patches of land 10 years back and thereafter no looking back. Now I earn  good money out of agrarian work," said Sulochana with delight.

Similarly, Shastri Sandha of Gitabahadi village under Balishankara block of Sundargarh district has established herself as a successful businesswoman with hard work and mettle.

After her divorce from husband, she returned to paternal house. Shastri did not become a burden on her family. Instead she has been a support and taking care of seven members of the family.

"In 2002, I opened a shop with an initial capital investment of Rs 200 and currently I am quite successful," Shastri stated.

Ranjulata Pradhan of Dasapalla in Nayagarh district has crossed all obstacles and become independent despite being a divyang. She has been earning Rs 20,000 monthly by preparing incense sticks.

"When I was a child my father passed away and we were spending lives with much difficulty. I thought of doing something to become independent. Initially I prepared incense sticks by hands. Now I have set up a incense stick manufacturing unit," stated Ranjulata with pride.