Radhamma, also known as Radha, is a 63-year-old woman residing in Hoskere, Periyapatna Taluk, Mysore District. She lives with her husband, her son, his wife (Bhagya Jyothi), and their grandchildren. Radhamma’s life took a tragic turn when her 22-year-old daughter died by suicide shortly after her marriage. This deeply affected Radhamma’s mental health, and she continues to receive medical supervision. Following her marriage, Radhamma moved to Periyapatna, where her husband worked in BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited).
Twenty-two years ago, Radhamma joined the Kaveri Mahila Maha Sangha, a women’s organization, and has since become an office bearer in the federation. She actively participates in all sangha and federation activities. Both Radhamma and her daughter-in-law took part in the MOVE training conducted by Pawadshetty, a trainer from the Best Practices Foundation in Bangalore. During the training, they realized that starting a small business required minimal investment and that understanding the local demand and supply of goods and services was crucial for success.
One of Radhamma’s favorite activities during the MOVE training was the Market Visit, where participants collected information about various businesses from local shops. They also engaged in a selling game, which initially made Radhamma feel shy and hesitant. However, through these activities, she gained valuable knowledge about sales, marketing, customer needs, identifying potential businesses, and the importance of location.
After completing the training, Radhamma and Bhagya Jyothi brainstormed business ideas. While they initially considered opening a shop or expanding their cow-milking operations, they realized that these ventures were not feasible due to limited customer potential and their budget constraints. After consulting with the BPF trainer, they decided to breed and sell country chickens (Nati Koli), a healthy and popular breed with good market demand. They purchased two hens and one rooster of the Nati Koli breed for INR 1500 from their savings.
Within a month, the chickens hatched 21 chicks, and they now have a total of 35 chickens. Radhamma mentioned that their expenses for chicken feed are minimal since they feed them leftovers and grains obtained for free from their society shop. They also discovered that the government veterinary hospital provides free flu shots for their chickens. Although they haven’t started regular sales yet, most of their customers are locals. In less than three months, they have earned a total profit of INR 2450. Additionally, they utilize excess eggs laid by their chickens for household consumption, providing health and financial benefits to their family.
Radhamma plans to construct a small chicken coop to protect the newly hatched chicks from predators. This will increase their production numbers and boost sales and profit margins. While the profits are currently modest, Radhamma is saving money to improve and expand the business. She expressed that the MOVE training has provided them with a sense of financial independence. They no longer need to rely on their husbands for money and are confident that they can quickly raise funds in case of emergencies or for their children’s education.