Eight goats, then fourteen
Puthurvayal, Gudalur, The Nilgiris
A landless Paniya couple from Puthurvayal grew their herd, sold two goats and put every rupee back into the business.
Shanthi (42) and her husband Mani (48) live in Puthurvayal and belong to the Paniya tribe. With no land of their own, they struggled on erratic casual labour wages.
In 2024 they received eight goats under the NMCT-NABARD Integrated Tribal Development Programme. Within 18 months the herd had grown to 14.
They sold two goats for ₹14,000 (₹7,000 each) and, instead of spending the money, reinvested all of it in a bigger goat shed. Their herd of 12 goats is now worth about ₹84,000.
Shanthi's household has built a thriving livestock business, and with it lasting resilience against poverty.