Lucky Hota of Sahajbahal village, Balangir district, transformed her life from a struggling housewife to an award-winning mushroom farmer and inspiring community leader. Earlier, her family of four depended heavily on paddy cultivation with occasional mung and corn, earning barely Rs 4,000 monthly.

Her journey of change began in 2018 when she joined a Self-Help Group (SHG) and took a loan to start mushroom farming. Her first harvest was a success, generating significant profit and motivating her to expand into other livelihoods. She later availed a CIF loan to start a dairy business, while her husband installed a borewell on their 2-acre land through Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation (OLIC), doubling paddy cultivation and growing seasonal crops.

Lucky’s family has benefited from multiple government schemes including MGNREGA, Mo Upakari Bagicha, Ujjwala, KALIA, Horticulture, and OLM loans, along with training, mentorship, and IEC support from local officials. These interventions enabled her socio-economic mobility and recognition in her community.

Today, Lucky serves as a Community Resource Person, mentoring village women. In 2021, she received the Best Mushroom Producer Award from the Governor of Odisha. Her children help run her YouTube channel, which shares her expertise and has gained over 600 subscribers in six months.

With a growing income, her family now owns a motorcycle, and Lucky focuses on her children’s education—her daughter aspires to be a lecturer, her son a police officer. She also aims to establish a mushroom seed unit to enhance income and support other women farmers.

Lucky Hota’s story exemplifies how government support, entrepreneurship, and determination can transform lives and uplift communities.