Help Rural Women Gain Essential Business Skills

Dear GlobalGiving Supporters,

Thank you for your continued support.

The Mann Deshi Foundation's Women Empowerment Program focuses on providing financial and non-financial services to rural women to improve their standard of living. In addition to providing affordable and easy access to credit for rural women, Mann Deshi Business Schools impart business skill training as well as digital literacy to women. It also provides mentorship, knowledge, and policy support to rural women entrepreneurs through the Mann Deshi Rural Chamber of Commerce for Women. 

Keen to develop new skills, Kavita enrolled in the Mann Deshi Chamber of Commerce program in 2019. ‘I started taking part in various workshops and activities. Upon visiting a workshop for machinery, it dawned on me that I might launch my own firm,’ she explains after recognizing the lack of shutter material manufacturers in Satara. In 2021 Kavita and her sister filled this gap in the market by starting a rolling shutter material manufacturing business. ‘I obtained a gold loan from Mann Deshi Bank for Rs 3.25 lakhs and from Axis Bank for Rs 3 lakhs’, she explains, combined with her savings to purchase a machine. As the only woman to attend the three-day course on how to operate the machinery safely, the male-dominated class was taken aback upon seeing her, creating doubts in her self-confidence and abilities.

Applying what she learned from the Chambers of Commerce program, Kavita introduced POS, online banking, and G-Pay for digital transactions. In addition, Kavita digitally marketed her business through Google MyBusiness, Instagram, and WhatsApp. They saw their clientele base grow, however was largely male-dominated. Kavita states they had to work extra hard ‘to gain their trust through imparting our knowledge to them’. Now, 40-50% of orders are placed through WhatsApp; this platform has massively helped Kavita expand her business network and thus her business as she now employs 6 staff members. The Chamber of Commerce program not only created an opportunity for business networking as Kavita receives orders from many Mann Deshi members but assisted in business licensing as ‘I obtained the IT return document, project report and Udyam Aadhar Shop Act following Mann Deshi’s advice.’ In the first month, the she earned just Rs 10,000 in profit, and last year this figure skyrocketed to a total of Rs 35 lakhs. Through the Chamber of Commerce program Kavita and her sister were able to unlock their full potential and become financially free.  ‘My journey has been immensely gratifying, ranging from educating children to producing rolling shutters’ Kavita reflects.

Thank you so much to all Mann Deshi Foundations supporters!!!