Gonda women SHG raises nursery of 5 lakh saplings worth Rs 30 lakh

LUCKNOW: For a self-help group of women in Gonda, the lockdown was a period for some constructive thinking and collective effort. Almost four months later, their efforts have started paying off.
The group of 40 was actively involved in growing and nurturing saplings and now has more than 5 lakh saplings ready in 10 nurseries raised collectively in villages like Mankapur, Chhapia, Haldharmau and Itiathok.
The seeds were sown in February.The free time the women had due to lockdown was used in nurturing and guarding saplings against strays.
Now, the green wealth created by them will be used by the rural development department for plantation along canals and ponds under MGNREGA. Not only that, the department may also buy the saplings raised by them.
The sale of the saplings might fetch the women about Rs 30 lakh.
The women, all from different villages, had formed an SHG about two years back with an intention to become self-dependent.
Under the national rural livelihood mission, they were trained to raise a nursery in February. They sowed seeds in village fields but protecting the saplings from stray animals was a big challenge.
When the lockdown was enforced, many of the women lost the odd jobs they were doing as labourers. Some involved in knitting and stitching also joined in and invested all their time in nurseries.
Anita Devi of Binhuni village said they were laughed at initially. "But now, villagers also support our efforts," she said.
Teak, sahjan, mango, guava and several other varieties of saplings are available in the nurseries.