Ratiya: Neha Rani of Ratakheda village, who was once confined to the four walls of her house, is standing on her feet today. Despite being educated, she was limited to household chores due to lack of employment opportunities. The family's income depended on farming and it was not easy for a family of seven to survive on limited income. But after joining the self-help group, Neha gave a new direction to her hard work and skills. The small work of making notebooks started from home has today taken the form of a business. Now she is not only doing a business of about Rs 7 lakh annually, but is also giving part time employment to other women.
Found a new path after joining the group
There are seven members in the family of Neha Rani wife Sushil Kumar, resident of Ratakheda village. The family's livelihood depended mainly on the husband's farming. Neha was educated and wanted to become self-reliant and contribute to strengthening the financial condition of the family, but she was unable to find any work suitable for her.
In February 2023, the field team of Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission reached the village and motivated the women to form self-help groups. Neha felt that through the group she could move forward towards fulfilling her dreams. She also inspired nearby women to join the group and formed 'Harman Mahila Self Help Group' on 20 February 2023. The women of the group made him a member considering his education, behavior and leadership abilities.
Turned the skill of making notebooks into a business
After joining the group, the mission staff motivated Neha to pursue her career. Neha told that she already used to make notebooks at home and wanted to take it to a bigger level. After this, he got the necessary support from the Mission and he started carrying forward his work systematically.
On August 24, 2024, Neha got a big room prepared in her house and installed notebook making machines. To take the business forward, financial assistance of about Rs 1.50 lakh was received from self-help groups, village organizations and cluster organizations of Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission. With this amount, he bought raw material in bulk and started making copies in the names of different schools and selling them in nearby schools.
After this he also started preparing different types of notebooks, diaries and notepads. Gradually his business reached nearby shopkeepers and he started selling his products in the district as well.
When business grew, husband also supported
Initially Neha was carrying forward this work alone. When the business started earning, her husband Sushil Kumar's thinking also changed. He started taking interest in Neha's work and started supporting her. Now Sushil is helping his wife in the notebook making business along with farming.
To further expand her business, Neha also got a Mudra loan of about Rs 50 thousand through the bank. Hard work paid off and the business continued to grow. Today Neha and her husband together are earning around Rs 7 lakh annually from this work. Almost the money taken to start the business has also been returned.
Neha became the one who gave employment, not the one who asked for it.
The biggest achievement of this success for Neha is that today she is providing the same employment to other women which she herself was once looking for. She is providing part time employment to the women involved in notebook making.
Neha says that before joining the self-help group, she felt that her parents educated her till BA, but due to lack of employment opportunities, her education was not being utilized. The support received from the group and the Livelihood Mission gave them the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Today she is recognized not only as a housewife but also as a successful woman entrepreneur.
Groups can make a big difference in the lives of women
Neha says that self-help groups are a big support for rural women and poor families. If women adopt the opportunities available through the group with intelligence and hard work, they can change their economic situation.
Group instills confidence in women: Suresh Kumar
DRDA CEO Suresh Kumar says that self-help groups are not only a medium of financial help, but also give women confidence and an opportunity to create their own identity. Neha's story is an example that if a woman has opportunity, support and confidence in her skills, she can not only change the economic condition of her family but can also open the way for employment for other women.