The Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam scheme in Madhya Pradesh is reshaping the economic lives of rural women farmers, providing them with orchards, fencing support, and multi-year wages to build a lasting source of income. Launched under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) during financial year 2025–26, the initiative is active across development blocks in the state, including Neemuch district.

How the Scheme Works

Under the programme, 100 beneficiaries are selected per development block — women who own at least two bighas of land with adequate irrigation. Selection is channelled through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Village Organisations, and Cluster Level Federations, ensuring community-rooted outreach.

Through a convergence of NRLM and MGNREGA, each beneficiary receives fruit-bearing saplings — including mango, orange, and pomegranate — along with wire fencing and MGNREGA wages for three years. Critically, beneficiaries can continue cultivating food crops such as wheat and soybean alongside the orchard, preserving their existing income while building a new one.

What Officials Said

Rajendra Kumar Chauhan, block manager in Neemuch district, confirmed that all 100 beneficiaries in the district have been selected. He noted that after approximately three years, fruit production is designed to become a permanent, self-sustaining income source for each household.

Chauhan also underlined the scheme's alignment with the Centre's broader welfare agenda. 'It is playing an important role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of creating Lakhpati Didis,' he said, referring to the national target of making rural women self-help group members earn at least ₹1 lakh annually.

Voices from the Field

Tina Meghwal, a beneficiary farmer from Banskheda village in Neemuch, said her SHG — the Tejaji Maharaj Swayam Sahayata Samuh — was guided by a Krishi Sakhi named Sangeeta Didi to plant and maintain the saplings. 'It has now been about three years since we planted the saplings of the orchard, and the trees have started bearing fruit,' she said, adding that her household income has improved and MGNREGA wages continue to supplement earnings.

Another beneficiary, who has been part of the scheme for roughly one year, described the support as comprehensive. 'I received funds for wire fencing as well as wages, and I will continue to receive wages for three years,' she said. 'This is a very good scheme and provides great benefits from the government.'

Broader Significance

The scheme is notable for its dual-track design: it does not displace existing farming activity but layers orchard income on top of it, reducing transition risk for smallholders. This comes amid a national push to strengthen rural women's economic participation through SHG-linked programmes. Notably, the Krishi Sakhi model — trained women agricultural extension workers embedded in communities — is central to on-ground delivery, bridging the gap between government support and actual adoption.

With fruit trees beginning to bear produce in the scheme's early cohorts, the coming years will test whether the model can deliver the sustained income gains it promises at scale across Madhya Pradesh's rural blocks.