Gangotri Vishwakarma becomes a symbol of rural women’s self-reliance through mushroom farming initiative
TFP Bureau, Korba/Raipur, March 5.2026: A community development initiative by Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), a Vedanta Group company, is helping women from economically weaker sections move towards financial independence. Under BALCO’s flagship project “Unnati,” women associated with self-help groups are receiving training and support to develop sustainable livelihoods. One of the most inspiring examples of this transformation is Gangotri Vishwakarma of Lalghat, who has earned recognition as “Mushroom Didi” after building a successful mushroom cultivation enterprise.
Gangotri’s journey reflects how targeted skill development and institutional support can change lives. Just a few years ago, she depended entirely on daily wage labour to support her family. Her income was uncertain, and each day’s survival depended on whether she could find work. “If I got work in the morning, the stove would burn in the evening. If not, it was difficult to even face my children,” she recalled while describing the hardships her family once faced.
The turning point came in 2019 when she joined the Jai Maa Harshita Self-Help Group under BALCO’s Unnati project. Through the programme, she received training in mushroom cultivation along with guidance on scientific farming methods, resource management and marketing. The training helped her understand that small-scale agricultural entrepreneurship could provide a steady and dignified livelihood.
Encouraged by the training, Gangotri began mushroom cultivation the same year. Initially she prepared 16 cultivation bags, hoping for a successful harvest. However, the first attempt brought disappointment when only two bags produced mushrooms. Instead of giving up, she analysed her mistakes, improved her techniques and decided to try again with renewed determination.
Gradually, her production began to improve. With continuous practice and technical guidance, she expanded the scale of her work and strengthened her cultivation process. Today, her mushroom unit regularly produces around 200 cultivation bags, generating consistent yields.
In mushroom cultivation, production generally begins within 20 to 25 days, and harvests can be taken three times a week. To ensure continuous supply, Gangotri prepares two new bags every day, maintaining a steady production cycle. The process involves soaking straw and drying it to maintain optimal moisture levels, adding bio-stimulant powder for nutrition and formalin powder to protect the crop from disease. These carefully prepared bags produce healthy mushrooms ready for sale in local markets.
Gangotri now sells the mushrooms herself, directly engaging with customers and local vendors. She recalls that in the early days of her enterprise, support from BALCO’s CSR initiatives helped her build confidence and overcome challenges. The training, technical guidance and encouragement she received played a crucial role in shaping her journey.
Her success has also enabled her to help other women in the community. Today she purchases mushroom seeds independently and distributes them among members of her self-help group. She currently serves as the Secretary of the Jai Maa Harshita Self-Help Group, guiding other women who wish to begin their own cultivation units. Because of her work and determination, she has become widely known in the community as “Mushroom Didi.”
The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be one of the most difficult periods for her family. Her husband’s income declined sharply, and financial uncertainty returned. During this challenging time, mushroom farming became the family’s main source of support. The income from the crop helped them meet household expenses and even save a small amount.
With the earnings from mushroom cultivation and the support of her husband, the family eventually managed to purchase an auto-rickshaw. Today her husband drives the vehicle for additional income and also helps her with cultivation work whenever he has time. Their household, once filled with worries about survival, now focuses on dreams of growth and stability.
At present, Gangotri earns an average profit of around ₹15,000 per month from mushroom farming. More importantly, the stable income has given her the confidence to plan for her children’s education and a better future for her family.
Looking ahead, she hopes to expand her production capacity significantly. Her dream is to increase the number of cultivation bags from 200 to nearly 5,000, which would not only increase her income but also create livelihood opportunities for other women in her community.
Gangotri believes that with proper training, institutional support and determination, even women from modest backgrounds can achieve financial independence. “When I look back at my journey—from working as a labourer to becoming self-reliant—I realise how much life can change with the right opportunity,” she said.
BALCO’s Unnati Project continues to empower women like Gangotri by providing skill training, mentoring and community-based support systems. Through such initiatives, rural women are not only building sustainable livelihoods but also emerging as leaders and role models within their communities.
