Success Story: Meerut’s cancer-stricken woman entrepreneur did wonders by starting pickle making business at home

Success Story of a Woman Suffering From Cancer: Laveena is from the Uttar Pradesh district of Meerut. In February 2010, she and her spouse received cancer diagnoses simultaneously. Her spouse was afflicted with oral cancer as Laveena battled breast cancer. Within days after one another, both had operations, which were followed by exhausting radiation and chemotherapy. It was an unbearably difficult period, psychologically and physically. Their daughter was still a baby, while their son was enrolled in Class 10.

The couple was faced with expensive medical bills and few choices. “We had no other resources for our kids but our home; therefore, some advised selling it to pay for therapy. I was unable to do it,” Laveena recollected resolutely. Their transport company was in a bind since they were unable to pay the bills. One thing, however, Laveena could always count on was her love of pickles and other pickled delicacies.

The Start of Something New

Laveena’s husband pushed her to pursue her passion of pickling cucumbers as a business, even in the face of hardship. She made the decision to give it a go by using the information she had learned from a food preservation course she had taken in school. Laveena said, “We started with just Rs. 1,500.” They produced 10 bottles of lemon squash with that little amount. Because they lacked the money for suitable caps, they repurposed old bottles from home and covered them with fabric.

Even though Laveena had no experience marketing goods, her strong will got her invited to neighborhood events and cat parties, where she persuaded ladies to sample her handmade treats. Her first batches were little, weighing 10 kg for lemon pickle and 5 kg for mango achar. She knew she was onto something, despite the humble start.

Fight for Achievement

The first three years were a difficult time. Laveena acknowledged, “It was a time of constant struggle.” It wasn’t easy, but she wanted to provide her kids a better life. After assisting with the family business, her son would study late into the night in preparation for his tests in the twelfth grade. “I recall him coming home at midnight from an exhibition when he was in the 12th grade. Despite having only two hours to study, he never voiced any complaints,” she proudly remembered.

The hardships were exacerbated by her husband’s persistent health concerns. Their lives have been made more difficult by his speech and hearing impairments. But their son took over and began working with Laveena to run the company.

From Pickles into Wealth

Laveena’s company started to expand over time. She rebranded her company as Laveena’s Tripti Foods and added pickles made from bitter gourd, ginger, and other vegetables as well as chutneys, papads, squashes, jams, and more. She grinned and said, “We have 60–70 different varieties today, and we’re always working on something new.” Her merchandise may be found online and in physical stores, especially on sites like Amazon.

Laveena creates jobs in addition to being a successful entrepreneur. She hires seven or eight individuals from her house and five more ladies from neighboring villages, the majority of whom are unable to go to cities. She said with pride, “Ninety-five percent of my coworkers are women.” From chopping and peeling to cleaning and preparing the spices, these ladies are engaged in every stage of the process.

Assistance from the Government

Laveena had assistance along the way. In addition to getting access to exhibits via the UP Horticulture Department, she was given a loan under the PM Mudra Yojana. She thanked the government for its support, saying, “Taking part in Kisan Mela and World Food India 2024 has been an incredible learning experience.”

A Real Source of Motivation

After thirteen years of travel, Laveena still operates her home-based company, handling all aspects of processing, packing, and marketing. Laveena Jain’s path, which includes overcoming illness and creating a successful company, is one of inspiration and optimism.

“I never imagined we’d get this far,” she said, analyzing the difficulties she had surmounted. “But here we are, living a life of dignity and purpose, and that’s all I ever wanted.”

Laveena’s tale demonstrates how, with perseverance, hard work, and a little faith, you can overcome any challenge and transform even the most modest beginnings into something quite amazing.