Madhuri joined the Producer Group as well as the VDC in March 2021; she was keen to be a part of Project Utthan and explore livelihood opportunities. Through HRDP we made conditional cash transfer of Rs 10,000 in November 2021. She took a store on rent at Rs 550 per month and bought a new electric sewing machine. She hasn’t looked back since.

Livestock theft and the safety of the women(which in turn limited their mobility) was a matter of concern for the villages. Until Oxfam India-HDFC Bank’s Holistic Rural Development Project (HRDP)* initiative stepped in with a creative and sustainable solution. Since 2020, 165 solar lights were installed in the 15 HRDP villages in the Harnaut, Hilsa, and Nagarnausa blocks of Nalanda district. These lights have reduced the dependency on the sporadic electricity  supply in the village and reduced its carbon footprint.

When we started setting up Farmer Field School (FFS) under HRDP, Abhay became our lead farmer and his field became a centre for learning. Oxfam India with support from HDFC bank has established 30 such Farmer Field Schools in 15 villages in three blocks in Nalanda District. These Farmer Filed Schools have been developed as centres of learning in these villages. Abhay was supported with various amenities such as green net (used to grow saplings in controlled temperature), mulching, and high yielding seeds. He was given on-field training from agriculture experts; he was also trained and supported to sow using the zero tillage machine.