In the Abu Road city and surrounding areas of Sirohi district in Rajasthan, around 18 women have carved out a path of self-reliance by starting their own entrepreneurial venture. These women trained under professional confectioners to learn the art of making traditional Rajasthani snacks, mathri, shakkarpara, and various kinds of sweets, and are now successfully running a thriving business.
The initiative is driven by roughly 18 women connected to the Karma Shakti Self-Help Group in Abu Road. These members spent about 10 days learning how to prepare different types of Rajasthani namkeen, papdi, shakkarpara, mathri, kaju katli, and boxed sweets.
Attractive Packaging and Market Presence
Once the products are prepared, the women ensure they are given attractive packaging. The snacks and sweets crafted by the women have been well-received by the public. Undertaken to promote women empowerment and make women financially independent, this initiative by the Karma Shakti group has also received active support from the Abu Road municipality.
Group member Himanshi shared that the women sell their products by setting up stalls at two prominent locations in Abu Road, situated right in front of the Abu Road bus stand and ahead of Shantikunj Park. The women collectively prepare snacks and sweets every day, package them attractively for the festive season, transport them to these retail points, and personally manage the counters. The demand for these items remains consistently high, with the Rajasthani moong moth namkeen being a major favorite among buyers. For guests visiting homes during Diwali, items like kaju katli and rasgulla are also readily available at these counters.
Special Diwali Hampers and Business Insights
Keeping the Diwali season in mind, the women have also curated a special festival pack containing five varieties of sweets and snacks. In addition to 10 distinct types of namkeen, several other snacks are on sale, with prices ranging from 150 rupees to 500 rupees. The women pointed out that anyone interested in entering this trade can start on a small scale by investing around one lakh rupees, learning the preparation of sweets and snacks, and launching the venture independently.
