Poonam

Poonam hails from Gauribazar in Deoria district. A graduate, she spent nearly 15 years managing her household after marriage—cooking, sending children to school, and handling daily chores. Her husband, Awadhesh Nigam, ran a wholesale business in food products like flour and bran. When COVID-19 struck in 2019, the business collapsed with dried-up sales and stuck payments.

Turning Crisis into Opportunity

By 2021, during the second pandemic wave, demand for immunity boosters and traditional products like camphor, guggal, and loban surged. Poonam researched camphor manufacturing via YouTube and presented the idea to her husband. Together, they pooled resources and established Gaurishankar Industries, launching Siddhi Aarti Kapoor in March 2023.

Finding the Right Support

Production began, but Poonam faced challenges selling without proper branding or trademark knowledge. Six months into the venture, she met Manoj Tiwari, a mentor from Jagriti's Udyam program, who introduced her to enterprise expert Sahana. In September 2023, Poonam joined Jagriti's cohort, receiving support for trademark registration, online marketplace connections, digital accounting training, and financial assistance.

Growing Success

"My camphor business is growing rapidly. I'm now making camphor in different sizes, and it's in high demand in Gorakhpur, Deoria, and Kushinagar districts." What started as a desperate attempt to save her family during crisis has now become a thriving business that proves a homemaker's potential knows no bounds.