Climbing Coconut trees and conquering success: Success Story of Omana

Smt. Omana hailing from Kinaloor, Karinthalam Panchayath of Kasaragod district of Kerala was frightened by the tall coconut trees which were meters high. But nowadays she is climbing those very same coconut trees with self-confidence and courage, pulling coconuts down and earning income from that. Omana who has started finding income from those coconut trees, which she used to fear once, has now became a role model for as many hard working Kudumbashree women. Omana, was once trying to make the both ends of their family meet. She was married to Ramesh, who was a construction site worker. It was Kudumbashree which brought changes in her life.

Transition from a normal woman to a confident woman

Omana came to know that Kudumbashree was extending trainings for starting enterprises and found self-employment through Kudumbashree Mission and she joined the Kudumbashree neighborhood group in her locality. And later, she was informed about the coconut tree climbing training by Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission. It was during 2010, that she received the training on coconut climbing and that itself changed her life altogether. She got three-day training for climbing using coconut climbing machine. After that, she had received two-week training from Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod.  After receiving the training Omana’s fear on climbing coconut trees was completely gone.  On completing the training successfully, she received a coconut tree climbing machine absolutely free of cost.

She made her family believe in her and started coconut tree climbing as her profession. She became a help for as many people who couldn’t find someone climb coconut trees for plucking coconuts. Later, she and her family shifted to Karinthalam of Kasaragod. But she was not ready to leave Kudumbashree. She took further initiatives to start a neighborhood group in her locality. Omana joined 13 women in her neighborhood and started a neighborhood group and named it as Aavani. She wanted another women to get job opportunities like she got. She played the role of NHG secretary very well. She charges Rs 35 for climbing one coconut tree and earns more than Rs 1000 each a day as daily income. There are as many families who depend on Omana for plucking coconut from their plots. Omana climbs more than 50 coconuts a day. She is supported by her loving husband and her loving kids who studies in degree, plus two and tenth classes.

Omana is an example of how much heights a woman can achieve if she believes in herself and act confidently. The life story of Omana would indeed be an inspiration of as many women who aspire of becoming successful in their lives, overcoming their fears.