๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ต
Hailing from Walsa Khalsa village in Maharashtraโs Jalna district, Bhikubai Kelode has weathered many storms since her childhood. She was married off at a young age due to her family’s financial struggles. Life became even harder when her husband passed away in 2008, leaving her to raise the family alone. To survive, she worked as a farm laborer, earning just enough to get by.
In 2015, Bhikubai joined a local self-help group. Her active involvement led her to become the secretary and treasurer of the Gram Sangh, roles that helped her gain confidence and connect with other women.
A turning point came in January 2024, when she attended the Entrepreneurship Development Training under the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP), facilitated by Swayam Shikshan Prayog. The training inspired her to start her own business.
With support from the Block Resource Centre, she prepared a business plan and received โน35,000 through the Community Enterprise Fund. She began selling dal and murmura in her village. Thanks to her hard work and careful planning, her business grew, and she now earns โน9,000โโน10,000 per month.
She says, โA woman becomes truly independent when she builds her own path โ SVEP showed me the way.โ
Bhikubai no longer depends on uncertain farm work. With her income, she supported her father’s efforts to arrange her sistersโ marriages. Today, she is a respected figure in her community โ confident in speaking with officials and making decisions for her household. Her journey has inspired many other women in her village to explore self-employment.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
12th May, 2025