“It was difficult running my grocery store while wearing a veil. Running my business efficiently mattered the most to me, therefore I stopped wearing it. Some people told my husband that he has ‘given me’ too much liberty, but he chose to support me. Today, we both run the shop together and our financial status has become far better than before.”

 Komal Saini

Thirty-two-year-old Komal lives with her husband Ramkaran and two children in Palai village in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. She is the first woman to start a grocery store in her village. Humana People to People India’s Disha Project team reached her village in April 2022.

At that time Komal was making anklets for artificial jewellery sellers. She used to make 60 to 70 pairs of anklets and earn up to Rs 300 every day. The fine detailing work was weakening her eyesight. Doctors advised her to avoid straining her eyes while doing this work. Whatever Komal earned, she contributed half of that money towards household expenses and the other half she deposited in the bank. Her husband Ramkaran worked at a shop in Govardhan town. Komal was concerned that if she left her anklet-making work, their household expenses would not be met with her husband’s salary alone. She was looking for an alternative source of earning.

Not the one to be bogged down by challenges, Komal dealt with her problems head on. She saw an opportunity when she met the team from DISHA. She introduced the team to the local women’s group in the village and started participating in the training organised by the DISHA team. After the training, she identified the need to start a grocery store in her neighbourhood, as there was none available. She bought a shop with the money she had saved by making anklets and borrowed some from her father. Soon, Komal started selling groceries from her new shop.

As Komal’s business picked up, Ramkaran quit his job and started helping her in managing it. With the support from the DISHA project team, Komal took a loan of Rs 40,000 from Humana Finances and expanded the business. Within three months she could earn enough to repay the full amount of loan. As the business flourished, she felt the need to include more goods and expand it further. Recently, she borrowed Rs 100,000 through Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna and is continuing to pay monthly EMIs.

“My business has started bearing fruits for my family. I am earning a profit of up to Rs 15,000 a month after paying all the debts,” quips Komal self-assuredly.   

Now, two more families have started their grocery stores in the locality. Despite having competitors Komal is confident. She attributes her success to her robust customer service and unmatchable large variety of goods to sell. Even if some required product is not available at her store, she ensures to make it available in a day or two.

No customer returns empty handed.