Courage and Change

“I Chose to Rise” – Rathnam Sunthari’s Story of Courage and Change

Rathnam Sunthari’s story is a powerful reminder that true change begins with a single decision to keep going—even when the world says stop.

When a woman chooses to rise, she carries her whole family with her.

Beneficiary Name: Rathnam Sunthari

Location: [Village Name]

Programmes: Self-Help Group (SHG), GTP Livelihood Programme

Focus Areas: Food Enterprise, Groundnut Cultivation, Betel Plantation, Poultry & Home Gardening

A Life of Struggle

There was a time when Rathnam Sunthari’s days began with uncertainty and ended with exhaustion. Living in a modest home with her ailing husband and elderly mother, she carried the weight of her entire family’s survival

Her husband was too sick to work. Her mother required constant care. And Sunthari, with no option but to persist, worked as a daily labourer—earning just enough for a handful of rice. Some days, they had only one meal. Some nights, she sat in silence, wondering how to keep her family alive.

Then, in 2023, came the hardest blow—the death of her husband. The sorrow was overwhelming, but the responsibility was even greater.

But deep within, a voice whispered:“Don’t stop here.”

The Turning Point: Joining a Self-Help Group

Sunthari joined a Self-Help Group (SHG) in her village. Initially, it was just a small gathering, a few kind words, a few rupees saved. But it soon became her path forward.

With her first low-interest loan, she launched a home-based food business. Customers came. They ate. They returned. And for the first time in years, she felt something powerful: Hope.

Cultivating Change: From Groundnuts to Growth

A supporting organization granted her access to a small plot of land near her home. With training and encouragement, she planted her first crop—groundnuts. It was hard work, but it brought her joy and renewed purpose.

Through the SHG, she also ventured into:

• Home gardening

• Poultry farming

These new skills began to shift her circumstances, one step at a time.

Breakthrough: Betel Cultivation with GTP Support

With additional support from the GTP Livelihood Programme, Sunthari started a betel plantation—a major breakthrough in her journey. Today, that single garden brings her an income of nearly Rs. 20,000 per month.

She used her earnings to:

• Build a well

• Install a motor pump for irrigation

• Expand her cultivation and food business

All this—achieved by a woman who once struggled to afford two meals a day.

“Today, I breathe easier. My family eats well. My home feels peaceful. I stood up when I could have fallen—and that has made all the difference.”

A Beacon of Strength

Rathnam Sunthari is no longer just a survivor. She is:

• A provider

• A farmer

• A businesswoman

• A pillar of inspiration for other women in her village

Her transformation is a living testament to resilience, courage, and the power of opportunity.