Prafulla's progression from basic lac cultivation earning ₹32,000 to ₹55,360 annually, expanding into value-added lac jewellery production and community mobilization.
A mother of five named Prafulla (name changed) was struggling to provide for her family. Agricultural productivity in her village had become unreliable due to climate change and limited resources, making it difficult to fund her children's education. She possessed cultivable land with Kusum and Ber trees but lacked knowledge about utilizing these assets effectively.
In 2014, Udyogini's team arrived in her area and held a mobilization meeting where Prafulla learned about using Kusum and Ber trees as hosts for lac cultivation. Recognizing she already had the necessary resources, she convinced her husband to attend training on scientific lac cultivation methods. Despite managing household chores and farm work, she completed the training program.
Following training completion, Udyogini provided her with initial supplies of quality lac brood. Using 4 kilos of brood, she began cultivation. Though she faced obstacles like difficulty spraying medicine on tall plants and the demanding physical labor involved, she persevered with her husband's support.
In her first six-month cycle, she earned 32,000 INR from lac cultivation alone. She invested her initial earnings in books and educational materials for her children. By 2019-20, her earnings reached 55,360 INR, inspiring her to encourage other women in her community to adopt lac cultivation and other income alternatives.
Today, Prafulla has become an emerging community leader who mobilizes and represents women. Her group has expanded beyond cultivation to value addition, with women receiving training in lac jewelry-making through Udyogini's programs.