KISHANGANJ, April 8 -- Encouraged by success, the Jeevika Didis-women volunteers engaged in plucking, processing and packaging "Mahananda leaf," a tea brand in Pothia block, Bihar's Kishanganj-have set a production target seven times higher than last year. The unit processed 1.5 lakh kg of tea leaves in the last financial year. Owned by the Mahananda Farmer Producer Company (MFPC) and run by the women-led collective supported by the JEEViKA initiative, the brand has emerged as a premium tea product attracting substantial market attention. "During the last financial year, the Tea Processing and Packaging unit in Pothia, spread over 10.6 acres area and run by Mahananda Jeevika Mahila Agro Producer Company Ltd, processed 1.5 lakh kg of tea," said Anuradha Chandra, Kishanganj district project manager (DPM) in the Jeevika project (Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society-BRLPS). She added, "The tea processing and packaging unit provides direct employment to 45 people, including 21 women, who receive monthly salaries ranging from Rs.10,000 to Rs.40,000." Lauding the independent work module of the Jeevika volunteers, she said they directly purchase tea leaves from around 1,800 tea farmers, involving no middlemen in this trade. "Mahananda FPC purchased 6,86,251 kg of tea leaves between August and December 2025," she said. Members of the Board of Directors-Neelam, Chandni, Uma Rani, and Jyotika Singh-said their brand is gaining its due position because of its quality and that it will also pave the way for more women-run business initiatives....