Annapurna Women’s Self Help Group

The Annapurna Women’s Self Help Group is a grassroots collective of women farmers based in Birachaamau village near Kanpur, India. Established in 2015 with the vision of fostering economic independence, environmental stewardship, and holistic well-being, the group empowers rural women to lead sustainable livelihoods through organic agriculture and cooperative action. In 2019, Annapurna began marketing its products under the brand name Manas Gram and in the same year, it received its organic certification from the Uttar Pradesh State Government.

Annapurna promotes the principles of self-reliance, shared learning, and dignified labor. Members receive hands-on training in organic farming techniques — including composting, seed preservation, and natural pest management — enabling them to grow chemical-free produce that nourishes both people and planet and making jams, pickles, and pappads from the Uttar Pradesh Department of Horticulture and Food Processing. The group also runs microfinance initiatives, giving members access to small loans for agricultural inputs and household needs.

Under the leadership of President Mrs. Sushma Dikshit, the Annapurna collective has gained local and regional recognition for its impact. Mrs. Dikshit has personally met with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mr. Yogi Adityanath, who not only endorsed the group’s work but also enjoyed the packaged organic products prepared by its women — a powerful testament to the quality and care woven into every offering.

More than an economic venture, Annapurna is a circle of solidarity, where women support each other, grow as leaders, and build a regenerative future for their families and communities. Their work uplifts entire households — improving nutrition, increasing girls’ education, and modeling a more inclusive rural economy. By investing in the Annapurna Women’s Self Help Group, we invest in a movement — where rural women are not only cultivating crops, but also growing resilience, restoring dignity, and leading transformation from the ground up.

Members of the Group include: Mrs. Sushma Dikshit (President), Monica Tiwari (Secretary), Pooja Kashyap, Deepa, Maiti, Sapna Pandey, Swati Shukla, and Simpal Yadav.

Manas Gram Organic Private Limited

Manas Gram Organic Pvt. Ltd. is a farmer-led enterprise committed to promoting sustainable agriculture, equitable growth, and dignified livelihoods in rural Uttar Pradesh. Affiliated with the Annapurna Women’s Self Help Group, it acts as a unifying platform — bringing together smallholder farmers, women cultivators, and agri-entrepreneurs under a shared vision of regenerative, community-based farming.

Registered as a farmer producer company, Manas Gram provides its members with access to better markets, fair pricing, and agricultural training focused on organic practices and ecological responsibility. By facilitating collective procurement, processing, and packaging of crops, the company reduces input costs, increases profitability, and ensures that farmers — especially women — retain greater control over their produce and profits.

With strong roots in Birachaamau village near Kanpur, Manas Gram has become a vital economic engine for the region, empowering over 100 farming families while preserving traditional knowledge and promoting health-conscious cultivation. It works in close collaboration with Annapurna Women’s Self Help Group to train and uplift women farmers, and distribute pure, chemical-free food across regional and urban markets.

Manas Gram envisions a future where farming is not just a livelihood, but a source of pride, prosperity, and purpose — and where India’s rural heartland flourishes through cooperation, sustainability, and the wisdom of its people.

Members of the Group include: Shiv Kumar, Jagat Katiyar, Kailash, Chhotelal, Kallan Pal, Sanjay Dikshit, Sunil Dikshit, Kallu Tiwari