Help Rural Women Gain Essential Business Skills

Meet the remarkable woman who is transforming her lives with the Mann Deshi Foundation-

“The human mind is restless and continually wonders, but by sheer willpower one can tame one’s mind which allows you to achieve your dreams. Baby is testament to that.”

“My first job was that of a hospital helper. I earned 300 rupees per month. Unsurprisingly, I found it impossible to sustain my living expenses. I started weaving bamboo baskets. This increased my earnings to 700 rupees per month. I started selling my goods on a bicycle. I decided to start a shop but didn’t have enough capital to start store. So I went to the Mann Deshi bank which issued me a loan of 12000 rupees. I then shifted to selling my products on foot in the morning and spending the rest of the day at my store. I was able to save 500 rupees per month.

I then joined the Mann Deshi MBA programme. I received financial literacy and business management training which explained the principles, benefits and methods of saving, calculation of loan requirements, etc. I opened a food stall near a school that served tea, coffee and vadapav. My daughter in law also helps me at the stall. I got my daughter-in-law educated. I believe that apart from the various courses offered by Mann Deshi, the Mahotsav (producer-consumer festival) it organises is also very important. I earned 17000 rupees at the Mahotsav. I found that my business also grew as I received a lot of orders after distributing pamphlets at the Mahotsav.”-Says Baby.

Reshma says, “the Mann Deshi has shown us the way of life.”

Reshma comes from a poor family,due to her family conditions she was not able to continue her studies. Due to added responsibility on her father to finance the education of his three brothers, she got married early.

But condition of her husband family was also not that good. For first 2-3 years the income of her husband was not enough to fulfill their family needs.  One day, in the weekly market she receive the pamphlet for Mann Deshi Udyogini (B-school for rural women) and enrolled business development workshop from which she got an idea of starting a shop- stationary needed for marriage business. Now Reshma has started the shop.   Then she also enrolled financial literacy workshop through which in order to increase the business, she approached the Mann Deshi bank for the loan.

She took a loan of 10000 Rs for the first time and increased the business. And with the second loan of Rs15000 she bought a shop and stationary.

And for the third time she took a loan of Rs 20000 and increased the stationary and grocery. Before her income used to be Rs 8, 000 and now it is gone to Rs 30,000.

Reshma says, “the Mann Deshi has shown us the way of life.”

Links:

• 15 women changing the world in 2015
• Every Problem is an opportunity to innovate