The ‘Mushroom Lady’ of Bihar, Beena Devi, from Tilkari village in the Munger district, represents the power of perseverance and innovation. Her story highlights her transformation, initiated by the cultivation of mushrooms.
Once struggling to provide for her family due to a lack of land and income, Beena’s life took a new direction with mushroom farming. This act not only changed her circumstances but also led to a women’s empowerment movement. Today, many women are following her path and ensuring a better future for themselves and their families. Her children now have greater access to education. Her efforts have been acknowledged by Prime Minister Modi in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and she was also honored by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2020.
Beena’s goal was to empower women in her community. She transformed her mushroom farming into a mission for social change. Today, women in more than 100 villages are growing mushrooms. Initially, Beena faced extreme hardship. There were times when she didn’t have enough food for her family. She didn’t give up and bought mushroom seeds. Since she didn’t have any land, she started growing them in a small space under her bed. Initially, she failed. Then she was trained at an agricultural university. After that, she started growing mushrooms using new techniques. Today, Beena earns a substantial income.