Kesaram a farmer from the scorched wasteland of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, had been cultivating the soil as far back as he could remember. Farming in the desert, where blistering sunshine and unusual rainfall made every working day nothing but a battle for Kesaram, but he never gave up. He envisioned a tomorrow where he could mechanise the farming process and lighten the backbreaking labour required in cultivating the land by hand.
One day Kesaram heard about Krishi Yantra Yojana some of the schemes the government was coming up with along with a few other schemes that promised subsidies on farming implements that would transform the lives of farmers. However, the procedure was too much for poor Kesaram as he had no idea how to deal with the complications and the steps, at that moment he approached the Soochna Adhikar Kendra, implemented by the DEF Soochnapreneur in his village. The empowerment of citizens to identify and exercise their right to information was carried out by the Soochna Adhikar Kendra, a citizen-centred initiative. Kesaram approached the Soochna Adhikar Kendra where the DEF Soochnapreneur explained everything to him very patiently the eligibility criteria, the documents needed, and the steps involved. With their help, Kesaram gathered all the necessary paperwork and submitted his application. With the subsidy under Krishi Yantra Yojana, he has now purchased agricultural equipment that has changed everything he could do regarding his farming practices.
The saga of Kesaram is all about power and empowerment through knowledge. He has been guided very adequately by the Soochna Adhikar Kendra on his way through the complex scheme undertaken by the government, which would see that one received the benefits correctly. It is always reassuring that hope with perseverance can win even under the bleakest of scenarios.