In Kolkata, India, Maya Rajbhar’s days once began early and ended late, shaped by the constant pressure of earning enough to keep her household running. Alongside her husband and three children, the family’s financial strain deepened when her son became disabled following an accident. With rising medical needs and caregiving responsibilities, every day became a balancing act between income and survival.
To support her family, Maya ran a small roadside food cart selling tea, biscuits, and other basic items. Despite long hours of work, her earnings remained limited—around INR 200–250 ($2-3 USD) per day—barely enough to cover household expenses, let alone medical costs and education needs.
“I worked hard every day just to manage basic household expenses,” Maya reflects. Her story changed when she joined Trickle Up’s livelihood program, WINGS, and participated in entrepreneurship development and financial literacy training. For the first time, she was introduced to structured business skills such as budgeting, record-keeping, profit and loss calculation, and savings practices.
Soon, Maya began to see her work differently: What had once been daily struggle for survival began to feel like a business that could grow. The training helped Maya think beyond immediate earnings and start planning for expansion by tracking her income, managing expenses more systematically, and reinvesting in her enterprise.
“The training helped me understand how to manage my business properly. Now I keep records, save regularly, and think about growing my enterprise further,” she says. Over time, Maya transitioned from a small tea cart to running a Bhaater Hotel serving rice meals and traditional Bengali food. The change expanded her offerings and significantly transformed her earning potential.
Her daily income rose significantly to approximately INR 1,300 ($24 USD) or more. With greater financial stability, Maya is now better able to support her children’s education and medical needs. She also saves regularly and reinvests in her business to ensure continued growth.
“Maya’s journey has inspired many women in the locality. She has shown that with the right support and determination, it is possible to build a successful livelihood and improve the family’s future,” a community member shares. Today, Maya is a business owner: making decisions and planning for the future with confidence.
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