From Shyness to Success: The Transformational Journey of Menaka Das

Entrepreneur details:

Village- Makeli 2

Cluster – Chamaria

District- Kamrup Rural

Menaka Das, a 30-year-old woman from Makeli 2 village, once lived a simple and quiet life. Her world was confined to household chores and occasional small-scale farming to support her husband, Mohan Das, a rickshaw driver. Menaka was introverted, rarely stepping beyond the boundaries of her village, and her confidence was further eroded by social discrimination due to vitiligo, a rare skin condition that made her a target of ignorance and stigma. Adding to her emotional burden was the fact that she and her husband had no children. Despite these challenges, she harboured a deep desire to contribute to her family and change her circumstances, but she lacked the knowledge and opportunities to do so.

Family profile

Her life began to take a turn when she came into contact with The Goat Trust (TGT), an organization dedicated to empowering rural women through training and livelihood development. Initially hesitant, Menaka decided to join their Udyamini programs, embarking on a journey that would transform not just her life but also her identity within her community. TGT introduced her to various trainings, including Livestock Business Counselor (LBC) which is a model of TGT, Digital Training to improve her communication and management skills, and Rural Women Entrepreneurship (RWE) Training to teach her financial planning and enterprise growth. Through exposure visits, she learned advanced livestock management techniques and entrepreneurial strategies. These experiences opened her eyes to new possibilities and gradually built her confidence.

Armed with knowledge and a newfound sense of purpose, Menaka started producing and selling input products such as “Dana Mishran, Neem oil, Milk replacer, Pashu Chaat” (Formula learned during LBC training) and other herbal medicines. She also provide basic goat treatments, going from door to door in her village and neighbouring communities. Despite initial scepticism from others, her dedication and expertise quickly earned her respect. Large orders, often ranging from 25 to 50 kilograms of feed mix, brought her substantial profits, which she saved and reinvested into her business. With this income, she expanded her ventures and purchased materials to improve her products. The once-shy woman, who was reluctant to face the world, now actively engaged with her community, becoming a role model for others.

Menaka’s work not only improved her financial situation but also transformed her personal and social life. Her livestock business flourished, with lesser mortality rates among her animals due to her diligent care and use of hygiene products like phenyl, lime, and potash.Her success extended beyond her household—Maneka started conducting awareness programs on livestock care and management, earning recognition as a (Saguli Doctor) in her village and neighbouring areas. The community that once marginalized her due to her condition now admired her for her courage and resilience. Her husband, initially worried about her introverted nature, became her strongest supporter, proud of her achievements.

Vitiligo, which once symbolized her struggles, became a testament to her strength. Through her association with TGT, Menaka overcame her fears and embraced her identity. Her consistent participation in training sessions, exposure visits, and meetings allowed her to shine as a confident and self-reliant woman. Today, she plans to expand her business further by opening a small store to showcase and sell her products. She also envisions starting a goat farm and expanding her backyard poultry business.

Menaka’s journey from a shy homemaker to a respected entrepreneur is a powerful story of transformation. Mena ka stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration in her community, proving that with determination and support, no challenge is insurmountable.

Livestock Status

Additional source of income Post Training by TGT under Udyamini program-