Angels Of Marathwada: Majha Ghar Children Turn Marigold Farming Into Life Lessons

Latur: During the festive season, Marigold flowers were abundant in Maharashtra's markets. Children at Majha Ghar, a home for underprivileged kids managed by Manus Pratishthan, experienced the fruits of their labor as they nurtured these flowers. Their marigold field, cultivated over months of hard work, provided an opportunity to learn responsibility, the value of labor, and financial self-reliance.

Majha Ghar is an initiative by Sharad and Sangeeta Zare who are committed to caring for, educating and empowering children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The children cultivated marigolds over three acres of land, planting approximately 10,000 saplings. The crop was anticipated to produce around five tonnes of flowers. However, low market prices meant that higher profits were not expected, according to Sharad Zare, the founder of the initiative.

For the children, this process involved more than just growing flowers. Preparing the soil, caring for the plants and harvesting the crop offered real-world lessons in teamwork, patience, and the connection between effort and income. Selling the flowers also enabled them to understand how seasonal demand can present opportunities for agricultural producers.

This initiative aligns with the organization's broader approach of merging classroom studies with practical skills. Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's Nai Talim, which stresses learning through productive work, the children are motivated to engage in farming, gardening, craft-making, and other activities that can lead to their independence.

Additionally, they have created decorative items like earthen lamps and lanterns for festivals. In 2025, their Diwali products fetched around ₹2 lakh in sales. The children utilized the earnings to paint and decorate the home's walls, thereby enhancing their own learning environment. The marigold project exemplifies this philosophy in a straightforward yet impactful manner.

Every flower symbolizes time, care, and collective effort, while the experience of taking a crop to the market provides a tangible lesson in the worth of labor. At Majha Ghar, education extends beyond the confines of textbooks; it is also about empowering children with the skills and self-assurance to lead lives of dignity and independence.