๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฌ: ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง’๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ
Shalan Ubhe, from Bavi village in Dharashiv district, faced numerous challenges in supporting her family. With limited resources and only a fifth-grade education, she relied on daily wage work in agricultural fields, earning meagre amounts that were not sufficient to meet her familyโs needs.
In 2022, when Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) organised a training program on entrepreneurship in her village, she was hesitant to attend due to household responsibilities. Shalan grew curious after a neighbour shared the benefits of the training programme and how it helped women to start small businesses. This has triggered Shalan, and she decided to join the training programme to improve her income generation activities.
The training program was found transformative for Shalan. Inspired by the learning, Shalan chose tailoring as her first business, a skill she could manage from home. With her dedication and commitment, her tailoring business grew quickly, earning โน300 daily. Besides this, she continued her agricultural work, adding an extra โน200 to her daily earnings. Motivated to grow further, Shalan attended SSPโs advanced entrepreneurship training six months later, where she learned business planning and management. She decided to diversify by baking and selling cakes, which further boosted her earnings to โน500โ600 daily, resulting in a monthly income of โน15,000.
Determined to expand her business, Shalan approached Sarayi Sakhi FPO for financial support and secured an interest-free loan of โน10,000. Combining this with her savings, she purchased a vermicelli-making machine, which enabled her to take more orders and significantly increase her income. With her businesses thriving, Shalan eventually stopped working as an agricultural labourer. Today, she earns โน800โ900 daily from her tailoring, cake-making, and vermicelli businesses.
Shalan reflects, โIโve become confident and independent, supporting my family and inspiring other women to start their own businesses.โ
Shalanโs story serves as a powerful example of the potential of rural women when given the right opportunities. She now inspires other women in her village to dream big and take charge of their futures.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
January 14, 2025