Finding a business that can be run from a village without draining savings or requiring a big city move is not easy for most young people. Mrityunjay Raut, 29, from Rakudih village in the Deoghar block, found his answer on YouTube, and that self-taught business now supports his whole family.
An idea from YouTube instead of a job hunt
Two years ago, Mrityunjay made a major decision about his future. Instead of wandering from place to place looking for a job, he chose to build his own livelihood. What makes his story interesting is that the idea of making disposable plates (pattal) and bowls (dona) did not come from any government scheme or training centre, but from watching videos on YouTube. He researched the cost of the machine, the availability of raw material and the demand in the market entirely online. Once he had gathered enough information, he wasted no time and jumped straight into the business, believing that hard work and dedication could bring good earnings even while staying in a village.
A machine from Dhanbad and a unit built for about one lakh rupees
Mrityunjay bought a plate and bowl making machine worth about 50 thousand rupees from Dhanbad district in Jharkhand. He then spent another roughly 50 thousand rupees on raw material. In total, with a starting cost of about one lakh rupees, he set up a small production unit right inside his own home. In the beginning, he faced some difficulty learning to operate the machine and building a market for his product, but the business gradually gained momentum. For the past two years, he has been continuously producing plates and bowls, and this business now covers his family's household expenses.
The wedding season brings in the biggest earnings
According to Mrityunjay, this business earns the most during the wedding season. As soon as the wedding season begins, demand for plates and bowls multiplies several times over, and many customers place advance orders to book stock. During this busy period, the machine has to run continuously so that all orders are completed on time. The workload increases considerably during this time, but so does the income. Mrityunjay says that if this business is run with full dedication and in the right way, earning a respectable income while living in a village is entirely possible.
A mother-son duo, and a business the whole family shares
What makes this business special is that the entire family works together on it. Mrityunjay's 62-year-old mother is an equal partner in the work. She helps prepare the plates and bowls while sitting at home, while Mrityunjay handles taking the finished stock to the market and selling it. His mother says that earlier her free time at home would simply pass by, but now that same time is being used productively. This has brought in income from home and given the family greater financial stability. Today, this mother-son duo has become an inspiration for many people in the village.
A new hope for the village's young people
Mrityunjay believes that instead of only chasing jobs, young people in villages today should also pay attention to small-scale businesses. With the right information, a modest amount of capital and the drive to work hard, earning a respectable income while staying in a village is entirely achievable. His plate and bowl making business is a clear example of this, one that has changed the life of an ordinary family. That is why many young people from nearby areas are now visiting him to learn about the machine's cost, the investment required and the finer details of the business. This small startup that began in a village is now emerging as a fresh source of employment hope for others as well.
