Ritanjali: A Mother’s Journey from Homemaker to Entrepreneur

Ritanjali, 34, from Odisha, has been a mother and homemaker for years, caring for her family with dedication. But she always wanted to do more, to take on roles beyond her home.

The first opportunity came in 2018 when her younger son started going to the local Anganwadi. Ritanjali joined Pratham’s Mothers’ Group. Meeting other mothers and discussing how to support children’s learning inspired her. She soon became the group’s leader, sharing Pratham’s activities and videos, attending meetings and encouraging others. She also took part in Children’s Clubs, where children in Grades 3 to 8 meet to improve their reading and maths skills. To stay involved, she bought a smartphone and taught herself to use it.

In 2022, she joined a beauty course through Pratham’s Education for Education initiative. After passing her skill test, she began offering services in nearby villages and later expanded her business by investing in more equipment.

But her dream of finishing school remained. She had dropped out after Grade 10. When she learned about Pratham’s Second Chance programme, which helps women complete their education, she enrolled as a remote learner in 2023.

In March 2024, Ritanjali passed her Grade 10 exams and is now continuing her studies. Alongside this, she runs her own beauty parlour near her home and earns over Rs 10,000 a month.

“The path to change was not easy, but with learning, skill and belief in myself, I have achieved what once seemed impossible,” she says.

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