Seven Lives and One Hope: The Unseen Strength of Rinaben

In the village of Motikhervan, dawn creeps in through the cracked walls of a small, raw house where Kotwaliya Rinaben begins another day. At thirty-one, she has known both joy and heartbreak, but it is responsibility that fills her mornings—seven family members depending on her alone.

Rinaben belongs to the land’s first people. She was once a young bride, her husband coming to live with her as a son-in-law, his promises carried in the early winds. When their son was just a child, her husband left—married another woman, vanished into his own village, leaving Rinaben with no money, no support, and a silence shaped by poverty and lack of knowledge about her rights.

Now she lives in a crowded home where laughter and worry share the same roof. Her son, now in eighth grade, sits quietly with his books while Rinaben’s days are spent working for every rupee, every meal, every moment of peace. Whatever she earns is spent quickly on food, medicines, and her son's school fees. There is nothing left to save.

Rinaben tends to her goats, selling them when money is needed for health or education. She knows the old art of weaving bamboo baskets, but rarely buys bamboo—the price is beyond reach. Sometimes, neighbors bring bamboo to her door, but often she must let opportunity pass, her dreams held back by what her hands cannot afford. She wishes she could expand her goat rearing and do more animal husbandry, but the lack of resources stands in her way.

Every day, she shoulders the weight of seven lives. No one stands with her. She has never received support from any government scheme. No pensions, no cards, no subsidies. The language of paperwork and officials is foreign to her—her struggle has always been lived face to face, one day to the next.

Still, Rinaben holds on to hope. She dreams of multiplying her goats, building a sturdier house, sending her son further in his studies, and having a toilet and clean water at home. She dreams of the day she will sell bamboo baskets in the market and have something of her own to pass down.

In a house with no land and little certainty, her strength is the foundation. Her hands feed everyone, her spirit holds them together, and her hope is the thread that ties morning to night.

At Single Mother Foundation, we stand with women like Rinaben, whose resilience lights up the darkest corners of their homes. Real change begins with personal support and the sharing of information—about rights, government schemes, and livelihoods—from one hand to another. Every story we share is a step toward dignity and a future where women can earn, own, and build with pride. If you wish to support women like Rinaben, write to connect@singlemotherfoundation.org.

Brought to you by Nishant Joshi, who believes voices like Rinaben’s carry hope where it is needed most.