Low wages and the relentless cycle of poverty force many farmers in Rajasthan to leave their families and seek better opportunities elsewhere. Their children, innocent victims of circumstance, are often forced to discontinue their education. Three young entrepreneurs, Satyam Bhandari, Rohit Negi, and Mohit Rana, were determined to change this, and through grit and hard work, they founded Foreka, a company that aimed to empower these farmers and uplift their communities.

“I watched my mother struggle to become financially empowered so she could give me a better life, and that inspired me deeply. As I connected with farmers and tribals, I was reminded of her struggles. I knew I had to do something for them, to ensure they too could have equal opportunities,” Satyam says.

Born and raised in Agastyamuni, a peaceful town cradled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Satyam, who lost his father at the age of four, had seen his mother work tirelessly to manage the household and raise him on her own. “I am thankful to her for ensuring I attended a good school and for giving me everything I needed to thrive,” he says. But many aren’t so lucky.

A passion to positively impact the lives of farmers

After completing his schooling, he pursued a bachelor of science (BSc) degree at a Dehradun college. Yearning to pursue some impactful work, he joined the Gandhi Fellowship in 2018-19 — a life-changing decision that profoundly shaped his future.

“It was here that I truly understood the struggles of marginalised communities. I worked with the Piramal Foundation in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, and witnessed the lives of farmers and tribal communities,” the 27-year-old says.

“I remember teaching at a school where the attendance was consistently low. I later realised that the children were working in the fields or doing household chores because earning Rs 100 per day was far more important to their families than sending the children to school,” he explains.

Under the Fellowship, Satyam stayed with a tribal family in Vidisha district for a month. The head of the family was a painter who earned a modest income, and their livelihood largely depended on fieldwork. The elder son, just nine years old, was kept out of school to help in the fields and earn some money for a meal. Meanwhile, the six-year-old son cared for his younger sister and took on household chores.

“I remember having a conversation with the family while an airplane flew overhead. I asked if they had ever travelled by flight or whether they planned to, and the head of the family responded that it wouldn’t happen in this generation,” he recalls. “That moment stayed with me and opened my eyes to the harsh truth that survival often took precedence over education for many families in these communities.”

His stay with the tribal family during his fellowship took him back to his childhood. “I remembered how difficult it........

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