“People would make a point of introducing you as someone from a historically marginalized caste,” she recalls. “We could not enter the homes of people from higher castes, and people would not drink from cups that I had touched. Things are much better now, but some discrimination still exists.”
She remembers one incident that has stayed with her. A young Dalit woman was selected as a government schoolteacher, but her appointment was cancelled because of her caste.
“People said they would be expected to greet her, and many did not want to,” Devi says.
Although discrimination has become less visible over the years, she believes that social exclusion and nepotism continue to limit opportunities for many people from marginalized communities.
A Difficult Beginning
Determined to create opportunities for women facing similar barriers, Devi started a small enterprise producing plates and bowls from Sal tree leaves. With an initial investment of NPR 150,000 provided through municipal support, she hoped the business would generate sustainable livelihoods for local women.
The journey, however, was far from easy. Despite the commitment of 10 to 15 women involved in the enterprise, the business struggled to grow. Limited technical knowledge, lack of business skills, inadequate equipment, and a small customer base made it difficult to produce quality products and reach the market.
Through her continued involvement in initiatives such as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence campaign, Devi witnessed how many women lacked decent employment opportunities. Rather than giving up, these experiences strengthened her determination to build a business that could provide women with a reliable source of income and greater independence.
A Turning Point
A turning point came when she learned about the (Financial Support to Third Parties) FSTP funding opportunity through the Samvardhan Project. After successfully applying, she received NPR 640,000 in three instalments. The investment enabled her to purchase improved machinery, strengthen quality production, and expand the enterprise.
Today, the business has grown into a thriving women-led enterprise that employs 45 women from diverse backgrounds, including women from both so-called higher and lower castes as well as former bonded laborers. Beyond creating jobs, the enterprise has become a space where women work together across social divisions that once kept them apart.
Work Without Division
The work is organized across different stages of production. Around 30 women collect Sal tree leaves from the community forest, gathering approximately 10 to 15 kilograms each, while another 15 to 20 women clean, prepare, and press the leaves into plates.
The enterprise also promotes environmentally responsible practices. The community forest, dominated by Sal trees, is managed sustainably, ensuring that leaf collection does not harm the forest ecosystem and wildlife.
Today, the women produce around 300 plates each day and earn approximately NPR 600 daily. The products are consistently packaged and sold, with steady market demand supporting the enterprise.
“Sal tree leaf plates are good,” Devi explains. “They do not harm the environment, they are not easily breakable, and they are acceptable for religious festivals and celebrations and alternate of plastic.”
More Than a Business
For Devi, however, the greatest achievement is not the growth of the business itself, but the positive change it has brought to the lives of the rural women involved.
“I have seen many women struggling, and now this work enables them to pay for housing, health treatment, food, and their children’s education. It is a good source of income for families. I only take a small profit from the business, but that is fine. I feel satisfied because the women are earning well.”
Devi’s journey reflects more than the success of a small enterprise. It demonstrates how targeted investment, combined with the determination of a woman who has experienced discrimination firsthand, can create dignified employment, strengthen social inclusion, and improve livelihoods for dozens of women and their families. What began as one woman’s determination to challenge inequality has grown into an enterprise that is creating opportunities, fostering inclusion, and helping women build more secure futures.
The Samvardhan project, funded by the European Union, Austrian Development Cooperation, ADRA Austria, in partnership with ADRA Nepal, Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB), BEE-Group, and Federation of Community Forestry Users, Nepal (FECOFUN), is implemented in Banke and Bardiya districts of Nepal.
