In the rural areas of Kerala, Lakshmi Reddy, a mother of two children Murugan and Aastha, felt helpless in the scorching heat. She stood on a barren land which failed to produce any crop. This land belonged to her husband, who had passed away due to illness in the recent past.
There was no source of income for Lakshmi to rely upon and her husband had left a huge debt. Lack of rainfall had made conditions worse.She had to stay hungry at night in order to feed her children.
Life seemed like hell until she came across a team of SankalpTaru Foundation, which was a non-profit organization with the mission of planting trees and empowering rural communities through sustainable livelihoods. The team was working in Lakshmi’s region on planting fruit bearing trees that could provide economic and environmental benefits to farmers.
As a consequence of too many schemes going wrong, Lakshmi was hesitant at first towards implementing the suggestions provided by SankalpTaru’s team. But when the team explained to her thoroughly how planting fruit trees can benefit her and secure her family’s future, she was convinced at last that the fruit trees can bring hope in her life as well as fruits and shade.
With proper guidance from the foundation, Lakshmi received saplings of Mango, Banana and Guava along with organic manure and training on the best farming practices. The team taught her soil management, drip irrigation techniques and how to care for her saplings in different seasons.
The first few months were challenging. The heat was unbearable and the water was scarce. However Lakshmi kept on trying and working hard with the hope of a better future for her children. Gradually, like her resolve, the saplings started growing with their roots gripping the earth firmly. Tears of joy came out of Lakshmi’s eyes when she witnessed it.
In one year, the Guava trees started bearing fruits, Lakshmi sold the fruits and she was able to earn enough to provide for Murugan and Aastha’s education. For the first time in years, she felt like she could breathe freely.
Today, Lakshmi’s orchard has become a steady source of income and she has paid off her husband’s debts. She sells fruits and organic compost made from farm waste – another skill she learnt from SankalpTaru foundation. The foundation also helped her connect with self-help for local women’s groups, where she shared her knowledge, saved collectively and created a safety net for her family.
For Lakshmi, the transformation was not only financial. The strength and dignity she regained meant more than money to her. From feeling helpless once, she now felt proud for the fact that she is not surviving but growing gradually.
Her children too have grown and transformed themselves. Murugan helps his mother in farming, after the school gets over and Aastha loves to water the trees. She says she wants to be an environmentalist once she grows up.
The once-barren land is a thriving green land, which shares the quiet confidence and hard work of a mother who refused to give up and echoes the laughter of two children. The trees not only provide fruits and shade but stand tall as a symbol of Lakshmi’s courage.
Lakshmi’s story is similar to thousands of rural women across India, who have received support from SankalpTaru’s tree-based livelihood programs. Each tree they plant not only nurtures the planet but also a dream, a family and a future.
As the sun sets over the flourishing orchard, Lakshmi looks at the trees swaying gently with the breeze. She considers the trees as her third child. As they grew with her, she can see a brighter tomorrow.
Lakshmi’s journey from struggles to strength reminds us of a pure truth – that by planting a tree, we don’t just grow nature but grow resilience, hope and life.
