Sanjana Bamaniya, a resident of Dhankhedi village in Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh, is not only a homemaker but also an active farmer who assists her husband in cultivating their 4-acre land. The family primarily grows traditional crops like wheat, soy, and gram, alongside horticultural produce such as Amla, mango, and lemon. A graduate by education, Sanjana always aspired to build a meaningful career and contribute to her family’s income, but she was unsure how to begin.

Her turning point came when she began attending awareness and capacity-building sessions conducted by Solidaridad. These sessions introduced her to the world of food processing, particularly focusing on Amla-based products. When Solidaridad announced a 5-day Amla Product Processing Training at the Siddhpur Resource Center in Sehore, Sanjana and her husband eagerly enrolled. The training covered not only product development—such as Amla pickle, chutney, murabba, laddu, and garlic and guava-based products—but also essential aspects like packaging, branding, and marketing.

From learning to leading

The training became a catalyst for change. Sanjana, who once considered cutting down their Amla, mango, and lemon trees due to low market value, decided instead to process the fruits from her own farm. This sustainable use of homegrown produce turned into a viable business model. She launched her own brand, Grihani, under which she began marketing her processed products.

Today, Sanjana produces 2 to 2.5 quintals of Amla products annually, along with popular items like mango and lemon pickle. With growing demand, she has sold products worth over ₹2 lakh, reaching customers through exhibitions, local events, government offices, and rural communities.

From entrepreneur to trainer

Thanks to her commitment and the skills she honed, Sanjana is now not only a successful entrepreneur but also a trainer. She has been appointed as a trainer at RSETI (Rural Self Employment Training Institute) of Bank of India in Sehore, where she trains other rural women in food processing, helping them build their own livelihood paths. This role has provided her with an additional source of income and deep satisfaction in mentoring others.

Sanjana is supported by the Bharatkhand Consortium of Farmer Producer Company Ltd, which aids her in product marketing and expanding her customer base.

Empowering her family and community

With her growing income, Sanjana has made significant strides in her personal life. She is the proud mother of three children, and her entrepreneurship has enabled her to enroll them in private schools and college, ensuring them a better future. Her vision is not just limited to business growth—she is focused on empowering her children through education and her fellow women through knowledge-sharing. She has not only established herself as an entrepreneur but also created livelihood opportunities for other women in her Self-Help Group. During times of bulk orders, she engages fellow members to support her work and compensates them with daily wages.

Being an active member of the Grihani SHG (Self-Help Group), Sanjana embodies the spirit of collective growth and women-led rural transformation.