I’m Pooja Sharma from Village- Chandu, Gurgaon (Haryana). In 2012 I realized that my house needs aren’t going to be fulfilled with just by husband’s earning. So I decided of taking the responsibility to support my husband. I joined KVK Shikoupur and told them to teach me skills that will help me earn livelihood. From there I learned to process soybeans and other cereals into ready to eat food items.

After taking the training I also encouraged other women of my village to take the same training. In 2013 I started farming and established a small manufacturing unit of roasted soybeans at home. I started involving other interested women in my venture and slowly expanded my business. I also made a self-help group by the name Kshitiz in my village. I encouraged more women of my village to join it.

To expand the manufacturing unit, I collected money from the group member and and purchased three more roasting machines. And after some time I purchased two more machines. Currently we have total 7 units of manufacturing machines.

I also have 1.25 acre of land on which I farm crops of pulses and cereals, so that I can process it later and sell it in the market. I’m teaching the same to other women of my village also to use their spare land for farming purpose.

With the team of 11 women, the processed food item that we are preparing are millet khichadi, millet laddoo, roasted wheat grains, roasted sorghum, roasted soy beans, roasted Bengal grams which are ready to eat. And we are selling our products throughout the country.

Now we have setup the machines at women’s home so that they can operate it at home also when they are free. We have divided the work- some women dry up the beans, some clean them and the rest of the women roast and grind them.

Apart of manufacturing food items, I also help women acquire training in stitching, farming and other activities they are interested in. My future plans is to expand the business and inspire more women and make them independent so that they don’t have to be dependent on others for money.