Punnawasi Sustains Her Family with Pig Rearing

Punnawasi Devi, a resilient woman in her late fifties, belongs to the Pasi community and shares her home with nine family members. With a small patch of land and irregular employment, sustaining the household was a constant challenge, leaving her and her husband in perpetual uncertainty. When Arthik Anusandhan Kendra extended support, Punnawasi saw an opportunity to break free from financial instability and requested assistance to purchase piglets.

With ₹12,000, she bought three piglets, dedicating herself to their care for a year. Her efforts paid off when she sold them for ₹25,000, reinvesting some earnings into farming and using the remaining amount to purchase three more piglets. A successful harvest followed, and she sold the new piglets for ₹20,000. However, instead of stopping there, she envisioned expanding her livelihood further. This time, she invested in a buffalo along with three piglets, determined to build a sustainable future.

Her persistence and forward-thinking approach transformed the family’s circumstances. With an increased income, her children now receive proper care, medication, and education. The buffalo provides milk, enhancing nutrition and further boosting the family’s earnings, while its market value continues to grow. Meanwhile, the piglets remain a stable source of income, and the manure from both the buffalo and pigs supports farming.

Punnawasi’s journey is a testament to perseverance, smart investments, and the power of grassroots support in enabling families to break the cycle of poverty and build a dignified life.