Grocery shop enhances income

Jyoti Gharti, 24, from remote Hardibang village in Rukum East faced significant chal

lenges in providing for her family. Living with her husband and son, their uncertain daily labour work and limited paternal property made it difficult for them to meet their family’s needs. Jyoti is also engaged in agriculture, but the limited land hindered her ability to produce enough to sustain her family throughout the year.

Jyoti’s financial struggles were known to all members of the Sedbang Community Forest User Committee in Hardibang. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when MIC-Nepal/UMN’s Sustainable Environment and Economic Development (SEED) project extended its support to Jyoti. With this assistance, she opened a groceryshop in her own village, filling a void as there was no other shop in the area. This not only provided significant support for Jyoti and her family but also became an advantage for the entire village. According to Adi Prasad Gharti, a member of the community, “This grocery shop not only supports Jyoti’s family but also saves time for the villagers to get their basic needs.”

Since starting the grocery shop, Jyoti’s total earnings from mid-January to July reached NPR 45,250 (approx. GBP 268). With this income, she managed to build a much-needed toilet that was previously unavailable. Being the owner of the grocery shop has not only improved Jyoti’s financial situation but also boosted her confidence and ability to interact with others. She has even taken the initiative to sort and manage the shop’s waste responsibly.

This small but significant effort has enabled Jyoti to improve her family’s living conditions, bringing them closer to a better life.

By Pushkar Pun, Social Mobiliser, MIC-Nepal