Steady Hands, Silent Hope: Chandanben’s Everyday Strength

In the still mornings of Moti Khervan, where the air smells of damp hay and wood smoke, Chandanben begins her day with two cows, a steel pail, and a quiet determination.

She’s 39. Seventh pass. A widow. A mother. The only steady hand in a household she holds together.

She lives in her in-laws’ home with her daughter and son-in-law. The house is hers now—officially in her name, along with a patch of land shared with her daughter. It has a toilet, electricity, a handpump for water, a working gas stove, and a phone she checks between chores. The walls carry the smell of turmeric and cow feed. It is not perfect, but it is safe.

Her daughter and son-in-law work in agriculture. But Chandanben’s own land lies dry. No water. No crops. She doesn't farm—not yet.

Instead, she focuses on her cows. Each morning, she walks to the shed, feeds them, milks them, sweeps the yard. The cows are her income. Her future. With just a few more, she believes she could stand on her own feet.

She has taken a loan for animal husbandry. She repays it carefully, while saving a small amount each month in a self-help group. Her only regular support is a widow pension, which barely covers the basics. She stretches it thin—for groceries, repairs, and the little things that always cost more than they should.

All her documents are in order—land papers, ID, pension slips—but government help hasn’t come. No housing support. No equipment. No scheme benefits.

Still, she hopes. For an electricity connection to irrigate her field. For a small grocery shop. For a Kishan Card or Shramyogi Card that might ease her load.

She doesn’t dream of luxuries—only of enough.

Each day begins with chores and ends with silent planning. What to pay. What to save. What to hope for next.

Chandanben doesn’t speak of hardship. She just carries it, one day at a time.

Single Mother Foundation walks alongside women like Chandanben—those who do everything right, yet are asked to wait. Through direct support, advocacy for government schemes, and pathways to self-reliance, Single Mother Foundation helps women turn borrowed survival into earned stability. If you'd like to join this journey, reach out to connect@singlemotherfoundation.org.

Brought to you by Nishant Joshi, in the hope that Chandanben’s voice travels where policy must reach.