Manjari Corner

In a move to boost rural economic development, Manjari Foundation have officially signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rajasthan Grameen Aajeevika Vikas Parishad (Rajeevika). This 5 year partnership will identify 10-12 high-potential enterprises and move them from local initiatives to market-ready businesses. A two-day training program was organised at Dariba location focusing on capacity building, teamwork and field skills for the group sakhis. Financial literacy training was conducted in Bhaldia, which included money management, savings, investment strategies, and maintaining income-expenditure balance. Information was also provided about Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. In collaboration with RSETI, Manjari has trained thirty rural women from Batheda Khurd village, Mawli on artificial jewelry making.

Breaking Barriers with Bubbles: Khusboo Parashar's Organic Soap Business

Meet Khusboo Parashar, a determined woman entrepreneur from Bhupalsagar, Rajasthan, who has defied socio-economic barriers to build a thriving business. With the support of Manjari Foundation's Digital Sakhi Initiative, Khusboo has transformed her life and become a beacon of hope for rural women entrepreneurs.

Khusboo's journey began with a small kirana store and tiffin service, which sparked her entrepreneurial spirit. However, it was attending a soap-making workshop that changed her life's trajectory. She discovered her passion for creating handmade organic soaps and decided to turn it into a business.

With the guidance of Manjari Foundation's Digital Sakhi Initiative, Khusboo overcame financial and marketing challenges. The initiative provided her with financial and digital literacy support, helped her access government schemes for women entrepreneurs, and assisted in branding and marketing strategies.

To compete in the market, Khusboo implemented innovative strategies:

Cost Reduction: Optimizing production processes to lower manufacturing costs.
Smaller Variants: Introducing 50g soap bars at a lower price point to attract budget-conscious customers.
Bulk Purchasing: Buying raw materials in bulk to reduce costs.
Local Distribution: Leveraging word-of-mouth marketing and local partnerships.

Khusboo actively leveraged online resources, including YouTube, to refine her soap-making techniques. She focused on improving the bathing experience by working on foam generation and experimented with different ingredient formulations to achieve the perfect balance of effectiveness, skin-friendliness, and cost efficiency.

Khusboo's journey exemplifies the power of perseverance and external support. With strategic planning, community engagement, and enhanced business operations, she is well on her way to building a sustainable and impactful organic soap business. Her success story underscores the importance of access to education, training, and financial assistance for women entrepreneurs in rural India.

The Digital Sakhi Initiative has played a pivotal role in Khusboo's success, demonstrating the impact of our programs in empowering rural women entrepreneurs. We are proud to support entrepreneurs like Khusboo and look forward to her continued success.