MANDI:
In a remarkable transformation from a homemaker to a thriving entrepreneur, Raksha Devi of Bairi village at Sundernagar in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh has become a shining example of self-reliance, earning nearly Rs 1 lakh every month through her food processing enterprise.
Her journey, rooted in local traditions and boosted by training and government support, stands as an inspiring model for rural women across Himachal Pradesh.
Raksha Devi began her journey by joining the Sheetla Self-Help Group in the Balh Valley’s Mairamseit region. With no prior business experience, she tapped into her culinary skills and underwent formal training from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Sundernagar, where she learnt to make products like multigrain kachori, siddu, kodra tea and traditional sweets. Her dedication soon led her to lead a team that now produces a wide range of handmade, naturally grown food products and handicrafts.
Employs 3 women directly at retail outlet
Today, Raksha not only runs a successful enterprise but also provides employment to three women directly at her retail outlet and has empowered many others from nearby villages who now prepare products from home. Regular orders from local institutions like courts, hospitals, agriculture offices, and police stations testify to the popularity and growing trust in her products, all made from coarse grains and natural ingredients.
Allotted retail outlet near Sundernagar SDM office
Raksha Devi’s success story is not an isolated one. It is a direct result of the Himachal Pradesh government’s focused efforts to empower women through welfare schemes and rural development initiatives.
One such major intervention is the Himachal Pradesh Crop Diversification Promotion Project, run with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project encourages rural entrepreneurship through diversified agriculture and food processing.
Under this initiative, Raksha was allotted a retail outlet near the SDM office in Sundernagar for the sale of products made by women self-help groups (SHGs). This outlet functions as a hub for locally produced items such as pickles, chutneys, millet-based laddoos, squash, ghee, honey and handcrafted materials. Raksha’s group has also networked with about 15 other SHGs across the state to widen the product range and ensure consistent supply.
In September 2024, Raksha’s group began offering traditional Himachali meals like sarson ka saag with makki ki roti and rajma-chawal, twice a week. Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the high standards of hygiene and taste maintained by the group.
The success of the Sheetla SHG is a clear demonstration of how strategic guidance, skill development and localised marketing support from the government can uplift rural communities, especially women.
Expressing her gratitude, Raksha Devi said, “We are grateful to the state government for creating such opportunities. The retail outlet has changed our lives and provided employment not only for us but also for women in surrounding villages.”
Munish Sood
