Dipikaben: Holding Hope Through Hard Seasons

In the village of Bhiljamboli, Dipikaben’s days begin early and end late.

At 33, she is raising three children while living with her in-laws in a modest mud home. Since losing her husband several years ago to illness, the responsibility of the household has rested entirely on her.

Her children are growing quickly. One is in higher secondary school, another preparing for board examinations, and the youngest still in middle school. Their education is both her priority and her pressure. Fees, books, uniforms — each milestone carries financial weight, but she carries it without hesitation.

There is agricultural land connected to the family, though it is currently rented out. To sustain the household, Dipikaben works in farm labour and animal husbandry. She takes careful responsibility for the livestock, understanding that even small improvements in milk production or animal care can make a difference. Income is modest and often uncertain. Education and occasional health expenses stretch the family’s resources. Yet she does not speak in terms of shortage. She speaks in terms of effort.

Dipikaben is skilled in preparing traditional teas and snacks — abilities that could grow into a small enterprise with the right guidance and support. She has the willingness to learn, to adapt, and to expand her livelihood beyond seasonal labour.

She has also attempted to access government schemes, seeking ways to improve her family’s stability. With clearer pathways, structured assistance, and livelihood-focused training, she has the potential to build something more sustainable for her children.

What stands out about Dipikaben is not hardship.
It is persistence.
It is the quiet strength of a woman who refuses to allow circumstance to dictate her children’s direction.

She describes her journey not as struggle, but as responsibility.

With steady support — financial guidance, access to entitlements, and opportunities for skill-based income — Dipikaben can move from managing uncertainty to creating security.

She does not ask for sympathy.
She asks for a fair chance to build.

At the Smt Jayalakshmi Memorial Single Mother Foundation, we believe women like Dipikaben do not need rescue.
They need partnership.
They need pathways.
They need someone to walk beside them.
Because when a mother holds hope through the hardest seasons, her children learn how to rise beyond them. Our promise… no single mother walks alone. 🌿