Anita Devi, a resident of Basantpur village, Siwan District, and an enthusiast member of Suhani SHG of Soni VO under Himmat CLF, identified an opportunity to start a sweet shop, PREM MISTHAN BHANDAR to cater to the local community’s cravings for traditional sweets. Being passionate about cooking and having prior experience in making sweets for family occasions, Anita saw this venture as a way to not only fulfill her entrepreneurial dreams but also contribute to family income.
2 years back, Anita Devi’s husband, the only earning member in the family died due to cardiac arrest. Anita Devi was left with 3 sons, out of which 2 are teenagers and 1 is unemployed. The Family’s financial condition and the burden of educating 2 children fueled Anita Devi to fulfill her dreams. She faced several challenges in setting up her sweet shop with her son which included limited initial capital to start the business on her own. Other challenges included the unavailability of quality ingredients and competition from a few nearby sweet shops in the village.
To overcome these challenges, Anita Devi secured a loan from Suhani SHG in the amount of 20,000, out of which she had already paid 15,000. She is also a beneficiary of a PMFME Seed capital loan of amount 40,000.To enhance her business, Anita experimented with unique dishes like Parwal Mithai and Rabdi Lassi in her shop to distinguish her sweets from those offered by competitors. Recently, she bought a display counter for sweets to attract local customers.
At present day, Anita Devi is serving high-quality products using fresh ingredients and maintaining hygiene standards. She prioritizes excellent customer service, ensuring a personalized and friendly experience for every customer. She earns Rs. 300-400/ day which gives her a monthly profit of Rs. 14000. This business provided Anita Didi with a good source of income for her family. Also, Anita Devi’s success inspired other villagers, especially women, to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations.
For her business enhancement, Anita aims to introduce new products by adding lunch items like roti sabzi, daal roti, Daal chawal and bakery items like Cake, pastry, etc.
Anita Devi’s journey exemplifies the transformative potential of entrepreneurship, particularly in rural communities. Through determination, resourcefulness, and community support, Anita was able to turn her dream of owning a sweet shop into a thriving reality, contributing to the socio-economic development of her village. Her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring rural women to make a positive impact in their communities through sheer hard work and determination.
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