Bhagyashree Waghmare, District Coordinator, YouthAid Foundation
Entrepreneurship, when supported with training and resources, can create meaningful change at the grassroots level. Amruta Sawant from Mouje Vadgaon in Kolhapur turned her interest in spice-making into a small business with the help of the Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP). Supported by Coforge and implemented by the YouthAid Foundation, the program gave her access to practical business knowledge and financial support, helping her start Kasturi Masale and Traders. Amruta’s journey shows how women can step into economic roles when the right opportunities are made available.
Background: A Homemaker with a Vision
Amruta lives in a joint family with her husband and two daughters. Her husband earned about Rs. 20,000 per month, which was barely enough to cover household expenses and left little room for savings or emergencies. She had a strong interest in preparing traditional pickles, chutneys, and spice powders. She often thought about starting a home-based business to support her family and create better opportunities for her daughters. However, the lack of business training and financial support kept her ideas from becoming a reality.
Challenges Faced: Moving from Idea to Action
Amruta faced several challenges before starting her business. Her husband’s income alone could not support new investments, and there was no money to buy tools or materials. She had never received any formal business training and lacked knowledge about managing accounts, handling customers, or promoting her products. She wasn’t sure how to build trust with buyers in the market. These difficulties made it hard for her to take the first step, even though she was motivated to contribute.
Interventions: How Support Made a Difference
Amruta learned about the YouthAid Foundation during the YESummit, an annual event that provides grassroots entrepreneurs with a platform to grow their businesses. Inspired by the opportunity, she decided to join the entrepreneurship training program. The sessions helped her understand how to plan a business, set prices, manage budgets, and market her products. With this knowledge and support from her family, she launched Kasturi Masale and Traders from a small shed next to her home. She began producing chutneys and spice powders using traditional recipes. However, the manual grinding process slowed her down and limited her production. With seed capital of Rs. 9,000 from the YouthAid Foundation and Rs. 6,900 from her savings, she bought a spice grinding machine. This helped her improve both the quantity and quality of her products.
Impact: Changes at Home and in the Community
Amruta’s income gradually increased—from Rs. 10,000 in the early stages to around Rs. 25,000 per month. This eased financial pressure at home and gave her greater freedom to participate in family decisions. Her daughters began receiving better educational support, and Amruta earned recognition in her village as a woman successfully running her own business. With the help of the spice grinding machine, she now produces a wider range of products with improved quality. She supplies turmeric powder, coconut powder, and custom spice blends to local shops and households. Her attention to quality and timely delivery has helped her build a loyal customer base. Over time, both the quality and variety of her products have grown significantly.
Looking Ahead: Building Further Opportunities
Amruta hopes to expand Kasturi Masale and Traders by forming producer groups with other women, collaborating with Self-Help Groups and cooperatives, using digital tools for marketing, and offering training to women who want to start their businesses. Her journey shows how the right guidance, combined with personal effort, can help women build successful small enterprises using their everyday skills. Amruta plans to continue growing her work while encouraging other women in her community to follow similar paths.
