Rajkumari, a 48-year-old woman from Nehru Colony, Faridabad, has been an epitome of resilience and determination. She lost her husband 25 years ago due to a nerve-related disease and has since been the anchor for her family of six members. Her son works as a daily wage painting labourer, earning around ₹450 per day when he gets an opportunity to work, while her daughter—separated from her husband—lives with Rajkumari along with her two children. With no formal education and a life marked by financial hardship, Rajkumari was determined to support her family and build a better future for her grandchildren. To survive, Rajkumari initially worked as a maid, earning only ₹50 per day. However, she aspired for something more sustainable. With sheer determination, she rented a van and started a small tea stall 23 years ago. She began with a meagre initial capital of ₹300, managing to make total sales of around ₹500 per day. Despite limited resources and knowledge, her persistence helped her keep going somehow.
Impact360 Foundation’s entrepreneurship development project at Faridabad came as a new lease of life for her.
During a household survey by Impact360, Rajkumari was identified as a potential project participant. She was enrolled in a 5-day Entrepreneurship Development Training Programme, where she learned essential business skills such as, 7 Ps of marketing, Costing and pricing techniques, Profit calculation methods, Stock management, Loan application procedures and many more related topics about entrepreneurship development. These trainings gave her the confidence and knowledge to scale her business strategically. From the training, she learned to wisely maintain separate grocery stocks for household and business, ensuring that none of the business items were used for personal needs.
Post-training, her business plan was selected, and she received crucial support from Impact360 Foundation in the form of assets like groceries and a new van. Combining this with her own savings, Rajkumari diversified her products by adding roti-sabji to her menu. This significantly increased her daily sales to Rs 1500/day. During festivals/special occasion it increases by 20% Her daughter also began assisting her during peak hours, which further improved their productivity. Despite occasional health issues, she continues to work tirelessly to sustain her family. Earlier her earning was Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 monthly, which has increased to Rs 15000 to Rs 18000 after receiving the support from the Entrepreneurship Development Training of Impact360.
One key advantage for Rajkumari was that she did not have to struggle much with promotion. Since her tea stall already had an established presence, she relied on her known customers, who naturally supported her expanded menu. This customer loyalty helped her increase sales smoothly, while word of mouth promotion amplified her business gradually.
As the sole breadwinner of the family, she carries the responsibility of sustaining everyone. Despite facing several issues at times, she manages both her business and household tirelessly, balancing her dual responsibilities with determination. Rajkumari’s vision goes beyond survival. She dreams of expanding her business further, increasing her income to purchase her own house instead of living in a rented one and providing quality education to her grandchildren for a better future.
Rajkumari’s story is a testament to how targeted intervention, resource support, continued handholding and personal resilience can transform lives. From a maid earning ₹50/day to a micro-entrepreneur generating up to ₹1,700/day, her journey reflects the power of women’s agency and enterprise.