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Deepa Shinde from Chorakhali village, Dharashiv, Maharashtra, transformed her small struggles into big changes for her family and community. Once a homemaker managing her house and children, she now runs her own dairy and inspires many others.
In 2020, Deepa attended a program by Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP). There, she met other women who had started their own dairies and were earning well. Their stories gave her courage. With support from her husband and in-laws, Deepa started her own dairy β Laxmi Dairy.
She began with 25 to 30 liters of milk per day, going house to house to build trust among people. Over time, 35 farmers from her village joined her, and today, her dairy collects about 200 liters of milk every day.
But frequent power cuts were a big problem. Milk would spoil, and she lost βΉ4,000ββΉ5,000 every month. The electricity bill was also high. Seeing this, SSP helped her set up a solar system for the dairy. Deepa received training on how to maintain and clean the panels. Now, her dairy runs smoothly without power issues. She saves about βΉ1,500ββΉ1,800 each month and no milk is wasted.
Deepa is the first woman in her village to run her own dairy. Many women are now learning from her and starting their own small businesses.
Deepa says, βA woman with courage can turn a small idea into a big success.β
Her journey shows how women can lead change β combining local wisdom with simple technologies like solar energy β to build stronger and climate-friendly villages.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
15 December, 2025