HT Correspondent
DEMOW, Feb 8: Chandana Saikia Kalita, a resident of Gojali Bangali Gaon near Demow in Sivasagar District, has made significant strides in the field of food processing since 2016. Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2017 when she initiated her enterprise with a loan of Rs 10,000 from a Self Help Group (SHG). Today, her monthly turnover exceeds Rs 2 lakhs.
State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Chandana Saikia Kalita for her remarkable journey and shared a video of her accomplishments in his social media. In the video, Chandana introduced herself as a member of the Athabari Gaon Panchayat in Demow Block, part of the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission under the Panchajanya VO, engaged with Ankuron SHG under Kalpataru VO.
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Chandana’s enterprise focuses on processing various food products made from rice, including cookies, cakes, pizzas, pastries, and bread. She has employed five women to manage operations, and her products are in high demand, with over 20 offerings available. Additionally, she supplies wholesale bakery products to 7-8 bakeries in Sivasagar district.
Despite operating from a small room at her house, Chandana’s enterprise has achieved significant milestones. In the past two months, she managed to export a millet product called ‘Ladoo’ to America, for which she secured a trademark. Her decision to produce bakery items from rice stems from Assam’s abundant paddy production and the health benefits of gluten-free rice-based products.
Chandana, a master trainer from Guwahati IIE, has also trained over 1700 women from various districts of Assam. With the help of a Rs 40,000 loan from CLF for food processing in 2020, her enterprise has flourished. Chandana acknowledges the crucial support of ASRLM in achieving self-reliance through SHG and VO and expresses gratitude for their assistance.
