In Chandai Thombari village of Jalna, Maharashtra, where most livelihoods follow familiar and uncertain paths, Laxmi Thombare chose to step into something different.
Her early life was shaped by responsibilities that came too soon. Marriage, household work, and limited resources left little room to think beyond daily survival. But somewhere within, there was a quiet determination to not remain confined to the same cycle.
Her turning point came when she became part of the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), implemented by Swayam Shikshan Prayog. As a Community Resource Person, she spent her days supporting others, guiding women to think about small businesses, helping them take first steps, and slowly building their confidence. In that process, something shifted within her as well.
“If I can support others, why not myself?” That question stayed.
With minimal investment, Laxmi began making vermicelli shevaya, starting small, working from home, and relying on simple tools. What set her apart was not scale, but consistency. Quality, hygiene, and trust became the foundation of her work. As demand grew, she did not stop at one product. She added dal packaging, papad making, and later experimented with vegetable dehydration, responding to what people around her needed.
Her enterprise gradually found its place in the village, a reliable stop for everyday essentials, located where people passed by, talked, and returned.
Today, her work brings in a steady income that has changed how her household functions. Financial stability is no longer uncertain, and her voice within the family carries weight. More than income, it is her presence as a businesswoman, as a mentor, as someone who took that first step that stands out.
Laxmi now looks ahead with clarity. She plans to invest in machines, expand her production, and reach more customers. But just as importantly, she continues to be a quiet example in her village, showing other women that starting small is not a limitation but a beginning.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
08 April, 2026
