“I cannot sit still for a prolonged period. You can see me making condiments and sweets or being engaged with accounts,” says P. Janaki, proprietor of Sri Parameswari Health Products. This 58-year-old woman who makes a variety of podis (powders), soup mixes, health mixes, condiments and laddus out of millets, has seen her business grow over the years since she started it in 2013. Having started the business to support herself and her family, Ms. Janaki says though she has put her children through college and rescued her family through a financial debacle, she has not lost her entrepreneurial spirit. In conversation with Sanjana Ganesh, she talks about her drive.
“I got married in 1976 and moved to Madurai from Tiruchi. My husband worked at a private company in the city and we had three young children. I realised that an additional income would help the family finances. As the first step, I began working at a company that produced handlooms at Sellur,” Ms. Janaki says.
She also reared goats and chicken but came to realise that they were not profitable.
She began realising the business potential of setting up a tea shop in her neighbourhood- Thathaneri.
“In the 1980s, this area was filled with paddy fields. There were no buildings. My husband and I decided to set up a tea shop in 1986 to cater to agricultural labourers. Soon Thathaneri became populated and people began demanding butter milk, curd and ghee also from us because of the good quality at our shop,” she says.
Despite an upswing in business, Ms. Janaki found herself at the mercy of moneylenders when she built her house.
“We spent all my husband’s pension benefits to get away from their clutches. In 2003, I joined DHAN Foundation’s Sellur Federation and began saving. We were also trained in various trade skills,” she says.
Inspiration
DHAN Foundation organised a special session for women on cooking with millets in 2008. The participants were encouraged to start their own businesses. This inspired Ms. Janaki.
“I attended every class that Tamil Nadu Agricultural University conducted on millets to expand my knowledge. Earlier, I had no idea about the different types of grains, now I am well-versed in all things about millets and love preparing the foodstuff,” she says.
Now, Ms. Janaki receives regular orders from Chennai, Tiruchi, besides Madurai, and is planning to supply to schools, colleges and gyms.
Ms. Janaki says marketing her produce in tea shops was challenging since they are priced a bit higher, though it is healthier than the regular products.
“I hope that the business picks up once people realise the importance of choosing healthy alternatives,” she says.