Rasilaben: Holding the Future Together

In the village of Bhiljamboli, Rasilaben moves through her day with quiet determination.

At 34, she is raising three children — two daughters and a son — while living in her parents’ home. After losing her husband unexpectedly several years ago, the direction of her life changed overnight. There were no in-laws to lean on, no extended household to absorb the shock. The responsibility of rebuilding fell entirely on her shoulders.

Today, her world revolves around her children’s education. One daughter is preparing for her board examinations. The younger daughter and her son are still in school. Their school bags, notebooks, and uniforms represent more than routine — they represent continuity. Stability. Hope.

Rasilaben works wherever work is available. Wage labour sustains the family, though it is often irregular and uncertain. She also supports the household through small-scale animal husbandry. The income fluctuates. The needs do not. She does not own a house of her own. She shares space with her parents, who provide what support they can. It is a temporary arrangement, but her vision for her children is not temporary. It is steady and long-term.

Like many women in her village, Rasilaben carries skills that remain underutilised. She knows sewing. With the right training, tools, and guidance, she has the potential to build a small home-based livelihood — something more stable than daily wage work, something she can grow over time.

She has the necessary documents in place. She is eligible for several government entitlements — from widow assistance to housing and education schemes. With proper guidance and structured support, she can access these opportunities more effectively and create a stronger foundation for her family.

What stands out about Rasilaben is not vulnerability.
It is resolve.
It is the quiet clarity with which she speaks about her children’s future.
She does not dwell on what she lost. She focuses on what she must build.

With steady financial support, access to welfare entitlements, and pathways toward skill-based self-employment, Rasilaben has the potential to transform uncertainty into stability.

Rasilaben does not ask for sympathy. She asks for a fair chance.

At the Smt Jayalakshmi Memorial Single Mother Foundation, we believe women like Rasilaben do not need rescue.
They need partnership.
They need pathways.
They need someone to walk beside them.
Because when a single mother stands steady, three young futures rise with her. Our promise… no single mother walks alone. 🌿