Imparting financial literacy, branding skills, this Maharashtra foundation helps rural women entrepreneurs shine

indianexpress.com

Sunita Lonkar grew up as an introvert in the small village of Moshi in Pune, and had to discontinue her education after Class 12 due to her family’s financial constraints. Her parents married her off at a young age after which she moved to Pimpri-Chinchwad with her husband and started a small business selling cloth bags. However, her earnings weren’t steady. In 2019, she started a home-based papad business that earned her just Rs 2,000 a month. Aiming to expand her business, two years ago she joined the Rural Chamber of Commerce for Women (RCCW) programme run by the charitable trust Mann Deshi Foundation. This year, she participated in the Mann Deshi Mumbai Mahotsav from February 5-9, where she carried out sales worth nearly Rs 1,05,000. From a reserved Moshi girl to a confident entrepreneur interacting with customers in Mumbai, Lonkar has come a long way. Read more