Phones were becoming increasingly common in Jaydevwadi village, Jalna district, Maharashtra, but villagers still had to travel several kilometres for recharges and mobile accessories.
Sakhubai Ambekar saw an opportunity in this everyday need.
Money had always been tight in her household, and starting a business had never seemed within her reach. That changed when a self-help group under the MSRLM-UMED programme connected her to SSPโs Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP).
Through the Entrepreneurship Development Programme, Sakhubai learned the basics of running an enterprise, costing products, managing stock and interacting with customers.
She used this learning to start a small shop in the village, selling phones, recharges, chargers, earphones and covers. Her shop meant that villagers no longer had to travel to town for these everyday needs.
The first few weeks were slow, and Sakhubai was unsure how the business would grow. She continued to maintain her stock and kept her prices reasonable. Gradually, customers began coming to her shop.
Today, she earns โน2,000 to โน2,500 on a good day and is exploring what else she can add as demand grows.
For Sakhubai, the training brought more than business knowledge. It gave her the confidence to recognise an opportunity around her and take the initiative to build an enterprise.
A simple observation about what her village needed has become a growing source of income for her family.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
30 September, 2026
