Name of the Beneficiary

Sandip Nimba Ahire

Name of the Enterprise Floated

Kanak Agro Food Processing Unit

Present Turnover

Rs. 2,50,000

Employment Generated

6 PwDs

Inital Investments

• Rs. 87,000

Funds Raised, if any

• 60,000 By Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) Office

Defying odds and embracing opportunity, Sandip Ahire’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience. Sandip Ahire, a resident of Jaykheda village in Nashik, Maharashtra, faced significant challenges after a debilitating accident that left him physically challenged. He and his wife, who relied on farming as their primary sources of income is farming, struggled to make ends meet. A turning point came when EDII team visited Jaykheda to start the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Micro Skillpreneurship Development Programme (MSDP) under Project AASHRAY.

Sandip participated in a one-month MSDP training programme, which proved transformative. He learned valuable skills and connected with other Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the agribusiness sector, improving financial stability. After completing the training, Sandip launched his enterprise, Star Kanak Agro Food Processing, specializing in the production of various spices and pre-mixes. With the help of other participant Sandip Created Self Help group Under Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission, with the help of MSRLM he secured a ₹60,000 loan. This funding enabled him to purchase essential machinery. 

Encouraged by the progress, Sandip participated at the Goda Saras exhibition in Nashik, further boosting his confidence. Today, he earns a respectable ₹20,000-₹22,000 per month and employs six other PwDs. Sandip is grateful to EDII and KONE Elevators for their support, now explores diverse ventures to expand his business. His future plans include scaling up spice production through a loan under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.