Mitaben: Building Stability, One Day at a Time

In the village of Bhiljamboli, Mitaben’s life moves with quiet persistence.

At 32, she is a widowed mother raising her young son while living in her parents’ home. More than a decade ago, she lost her husband to a sudden illness. Since then, responsibility has rested firmly on her shoulders.

Her son is now in school, curious and growing. His notebooks and school uniform are simple things — yet for Mitaben, they represent security, possibility, and hope. Everything she does is anchored in one goal: that her son’s future should not be limited by her present circumstances.

Mitaben does not own land or a home of her own. The family depends on her parents’ small farming activities. She contributes through manual labour and animal husbandry, working whenever seasonal opportunities arise. The work is demanding and the income uncertain, but her commitment is steady. She has learned to adapt. She has experience in caring for livestock. She knows how to prepare traditional foods like papad. She has even picked up small craft skills along the way. These are not merely tasks — they are seeds of potential enterprise.

Yet uncertainty remains a constant companion. Without property in her name and without stable income, planning ahead is difficult. Social expectations and quiet judgment add another layer to her journey — challenges rarely spoken about, but deeply felt.

Despite this, Mitaben does not describe herself as burdened. She describes herself as responsible.

She has not yet accessed government schemes or formal support systems. With guidance, awareness, and structured assistance, she can unlock entitlements and begin building a skill-based livelihood of her own — one that offers more stability than seasonal wage work.

What stands out about Mitaben is not fragility. It is endurance. It is the quiet discipline of showing up every single day — for her child, for her family, for a future she believes can be better. With steady financial support, access to welfare entitlements, and training to strengthen her skills in animal husbandry or home-based enterprise, Mitaben has the potential to move from uncertainty toward independence. She does not ask for sympathy. She asks for the opportunity to build.

At the Smt Jayalakshmi Memorial Single Mother Foundation, we believe women like Mitaben do not need rescue.
They need partnership.
They need pathways.
They need someone to walk beside them.
Because when a single mother builds stability, even one small step at a time, the next generation walks forward with confidence. Our promise… no single mother walks alone. 🌿