Balancing the Books and Breaking Barriers: Mamina’s Journey to Financial Success
Women often manage the household budget and finances of their family. However, a huge population of women, especially in rural India never really get a chance to become financially independent or become entrepreneurs. Mamina Nanda, an inspiring woman from the eastern state of Odisha, broke free from the shackles of patriarchy to become self-sufficient and empower her family and other women from her community.
Mamina hails from Badabhuin village in Cuttack and is a mother of two children. Initially her modest household income came from her husband's job. She managed daily household expenses and repayments for informal loans. More often than not, the family had very little left at the end of the day for savings. This is when she got an opportunity to partake in the Jaadu Ginni ka Program.
The program transformed her life and provided foundational knowledge about financial literacy tools, small-scale business opportunities and skills to improve her family's living standards.
“I was exhilarated to see the vans with monitors stationed in our Panchayat. Through the financial literacy training, I learned the importance of setting aside a small amount as savings consistently. This helped my family in differentiating between our wants VS needs; now, we spend more on needs rather than on wants. The training has also inspired me to start my own business which will help me to support my family and improve our living standards”, Mamina said with an exuberant smile.
Backed by the training she got through the Jaadu Ginni ka Program, Mamina also enrolled in a distant-learning course in bookkeeping and worked hard to master the skills. She then started providing bookkeeping services to small businesses in her village. With her hard work, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy, she quickly gained a reputation for being one of the best bookkeepers in the region.
As her business grew, Mamina also started providing financial advice to her clients, helping them to manage their finances and grow their businesses. Today she is known for her honesty and integrity, which earned her the trust and respect of the people of her community.
Despite facing many challenges, such as the lack of resources and limited access to technology, Mamina never gave up on her dreams. All she needed was a launch-pad that she gained from the Jaddu Ginni ka Program. Her determination and hard work helped her to transform from a home-maker to an entrepreneur and provide financial stability to her family. She is a successful a role model for many young women and a proof that with hard work and determination, one can overcome any obstacle and achieve their goals, regardless of where they come from.
