Seed Money Sparks Padmini’s Entrepreneurial Transformation

At 22, Padmini Muduli of Kakrigumma village in Laxmipur block, Koraput district, struggled to support her family of three through irregular small-scale farming. With no steady secondary income, limited market access and no formal credit support, her household faced daily financial uncertainty. Business exposure was minimal, and savings were scarce, making even basic needs difficult to manage.

Her turning point came under the Mukhyamantri Janajati Jeevika Mission (MMJJM). With ₹1,00,000 as seed support from the Government of Odisha and an additional ₹20,000 from her own savings, Padmini established a small grocery store in her village. Training from ITDA, Koraput equipped her with skills in business planning, bookkeeping and financial management. She adopted a point-of-sale system to manage transactions efficiently, signalling a shift from subsistence survival to structured enterprise.

Today, her store earns around ₹15,000 per month, ensuring stable income and improved living conditions. The steady cash flow has strengthened household security and restored confidence. What began as seed capital has evolved into a sustainable rural enterprise—demonstrating how timely government support, structured mentoring and field facilitation by CYSD can unlock entrepreneurial potential.