For years, the women of Zakariyapura lived with problems that felt impossible to escape. Smoke from traditional wood-fired stoves filled their kitchens, leaving them with burning eyes and breathing difficulties. Household expenses continued to rise, domestic tensions were common, and many families struggled to make ends meet.
Today, the same village tells a very different story. The change began with something most people considered waste.
Madhuben had never imagined that cattle dung could improve lives. Everything changed after she visited a biogas plant in a neighbouring village. Seeing the system work convinced her that her own village could benefit from it too. Determined to bring the idea home, she encouraged others to embrace the renewable solution.
When waste became wealth
With support from the National Dairy Development Board, biogas plants were installed in all 368 cattle-owning households in Zakariyapura. Each plant uses a simple combination of cattle dung and water to produce biogas for cooking along with nutrient-rich slurry.
It did not take long for the village to notice the difference. Families no longer had to rely on smoky wood-fired stoves or spend money on LPG cylinders. Women, who spent hours cooking in smoke-filled kitchens, finally found relief from respiratory problems and constant eye irritation. Health improved, and household expenses came down, easing the financial strain that fuelled domestic disputes.
The slurry produced by the plants opened up an entirely new opportunity. Women came together to form the country’s first all-women manual cooperative to process and sell the organic fertiliser in the market. What was once discarded as waste is now an additional source of livelihood, with households earning between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 every month.
The benefits extend well beyond income. With women spending less time collecting firewood and managing household chores, young girls have more time to focus on their education instead of helping at home.
Zakariyapura’s journey shows how a simple idea, backed by community participation, can rebuild an entire village. The village has found extraordinary value in something that was once overlooked. It now supports kitchens, livelihoods, improves health, and gives families the confidence to build a better future. As more villages look for sustainable ways to improve rural life, this village offers a model that proves meaningful change can begin with the most ordinary of resources.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thebetterindia.com
