Neeraj, living in the Jharkhand capital of Ranchi, left behind his professional career to build a unique business rooted in the mountains of Uttarakhand. In his ancestral village, he maintains various mountain flowers and sheep, with the rhododendron flower standing out as particularly special. This specific blossom is used to create a distinctive pink tea leaves variant that exhibits blue and pink hues while offering a delightful taste. Priced at around ₹100 for just 100 grams, it sells at a rate of ₹1000 per kilogram, enabling him to generate substantial earnings through this venture.
Alongside floral tea, Neeraj also manufactures natural silk fabric that commands prices of up to ₹80,000. He noted that they rear sheep at home and prepare all these items locally. Today, he owns an independent brand with supplies distributed on a pan-India level. He has also benefited from various government schemes, maintaining a close association with NABARD. Through government support and personal dedication, he has scaled his operations significantly.
The Advantages of Connecting with NABARD
Detailing his association with NABARD, he explained that artisans and manual creators who handcraft items receive substantial subsidies on loans through the institution. According to him, they receive subsidies of up to 90%. Additionally, they get completely free opportunities to set up stalls at government fairs and exhibitions all across India. Both of these provisions have played a vital role in propelling his business forward and expanding its reach nationwide.
Discussing his product lineup, he mentioned that customers can find various options such as rhododendron, kafal, and spiced tea leaves. The spiced tea variant is prepared by grinding natural spices found in mountainous regions. Meanwhile, kafal is a pink mountain flower cultivated in their native area. They manage its cultivation in their own territory, followed by drying and packaging processes. All of these operations are handled by village women whom he personally trains.
Massive Demand and Crores in Annual Turnover
The market demand for his specialty tea remains remarkably high. He stated that despite selling at ₹1000 per kilo, the demand outstrips their ability to fulfill orders. This herbal tea has the unique characteristic that a tiny amount suffices, eliminating the need to add sugar or other sweeteners. His customer base spans every single state across India, and his annual turnover now runs into crores.
After completing his MBA, he worked in Delhi for about 40 years, but he always felt a strong desire to start an independent enterprise. Possessing ancestral land and farming fields in his village, the thought occurred to him to utilize these resources effectively. This sparked the idea of introducing the mountain flower tea beyond just the hills, sharing it with citizens nationwide. That journey began this enterprise, and today more than 200 women work alongside him while achieving financial independence.
