In the serene village of Abhepuri, nestled in Maharashtra’s Satara district, Rupali Mandhare lived a life centered around her family and household. A homemaker with a warm heart and unyielding spirit, she took pride in the small joys of life. But in March 2020, the COVID-19 lockdown upended everything. Her husband’s income, the family’s primary support, dwindled to nothing. Like many others in the village, they faced the harsh reality of scarcity.
What set Rupali apart was her refusal to let despair dictate her future. While many lamented the grim circumstances, she saw an opportunity to rewrite her narrative. Fuelled by a desire to support her family and empower others, she dreamed of starting a business. However, with limited formal education and no prior experience, the odds seemed stacked against her.
Determined to turn her dream into reality, Rupali enrolled in a training program by the YouthAid Foundation. The initiative was tailored for marginalized communities, equipping participants with entrepreneurial and financial literacy skills. Rupali eagerly absorbed every lesson, from identifying viable business ideas to mastering the nuances of branding and marketing.
During her training, an idea blossomed: tamarind candy. A beloved treat across India, tamarind candy had the dual advantage of cultural familiarity and a newfound relevance as doctors recommended tamarind’s immunity-boosting properties during the pandemic. Its production required minimal investment and could be entirely handcrafted, making it an ideal choice.
Rupali began her venture modestly. With a few neighbors as partners, she set up a small production unit in her home. Armed with recipes passed down generations, they crafted tamarind candies with the utmost care, emphasizing quality. To ensure her product stood out, Rupali invested time in understanding packaging trends and market preferences, creating vibrant and eco-friendly designs that caught customers’ eyes.
As word spread about her candies, so did demand. Rupali’s kitchen-based operations could no longer meet the growing orders. Drawing on her training, she approached local government schemes and secured a small business loan. The funds allowed her to purchase a packaging machine, streamline production, and maintain high standards.
Within months, Rupali’s small venture became a community success story. Her annual revenue reached ₹2-3 lakhs, and she earned a steady net profit of ₹35,000. More importantly, her initiative created employment for five to seven women in the village, providing them with not just income but also a sense of independence and confidence.
Rupali’s ambitions didn’t stop there. She envisioned expanding her business into other confectionery products and using her platform to inspire more women to pursue entrepreneurship. “If I can do it,” she often said, “so can you.”
Rupali’s story became a beacon of hope in Abhepuri. It proved that even in the face of adversity, courage and innovation could create lasting change. What began as a necessity in a time of crisis became a movement of empowerment, transforming not only Rupali’s life but also her community’s fortunes.
The article is contributed by Sofy Mathew, Member Board of Directors, YouthAid Foundation.
