From Rural Haryana to Lakhpati Didi: Pooja Sharma's Inspiring Entrepreneurial Journey
Pooja Sharma's story began much like that of countless rural girls in Haryana. She completed her education only till Class 10 and entered matrimony at the age of 20. However, between raising three children and navigating persistent financial pressures, this now 46-year-old entrepreneur quietly charted a remarkable career path—not only achieving financial independence but also transforming the lives of numerous other women along the way.
Humble Beginnings and Early Struggles
Once a beneficiary of the government's transformative "Lakhpati Didi" initiative, Pooja has been meticulously building a rural enterprise deeply rooted in millets, dairy, and the collective strength of women. She formed a self-help group comprising local women who initially sold their homemade products at government-organized trade fairs, gradually cultivating a loyal customer base through persistence and quality.
"We take whatever work comes our way," Pooja states with characteristic determination. Her journey, however, stretches back to 2008, when her husband lacked regular employment and she juggled extensive household responsibilities within a family grappling with limited income. Opportunities for women in her situation were exceptionally scarce during that period.
The First Steps Toward Independence
That pivotal year, she joined a non-governmental organization with a modest monthly salary of Rs 2,500. The role involved working directly with women and children in surrounding villages, spreading crucial awareness about health and education. For the very first time, Pooja stepped out of her home regularly, interacted with strangers, and gained the confidence to earn and contribute meaningfully to her family's finances. She continued her work with the NGO until 2010, but by then, a powerful seed of entrepreneurship had already taken firm root in her mind.
Building a Dairy Business from the Ground Up
In 2010, armed with limited resources but burgeoning confidence, Pooja launched a small-scale dairy business. She started with a single cow, housed in a 150-year-old abandoned structure. After personally repairing the dilapidated building, she gradually increased her herd to seven cows, transforming the space into a modest yet fully functional dairy unit. While this venture provided some financial stability, the most significant transformation in her life arrived three years later.
A Training Program That Changed Everything
In 2013, a training session organized by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra introduced Pooja and several other village women to the concept of producing roasted soya products. Merely attending this training presented a formidable challenge. "At that time I did not even have money to cover my travel expenses to reach the training centre. KVK helped us with the transportation cost after adjusting the snacks provided at the training," Pooja recalls gratefully.
With subsequent government support, she formally established a self-help group and began producing nutritious, millet-based food products. "Farmers cannot decide the price of their produce," Pooja explains. "But after value addition, farmers like us can sell our products at our own price."
Overcoming Social Norms and Expanding Horizons
Participating in trade fairs across various cities demanded long hours and frequent travel, often requiring her to return home late at night. "We could not close our stalls before 8pm, and by the time I reached home it was late," she says. To maintain discretion during these late-evening movements, she even stopped wearing her traditional ankle bracelets. "It was difficult and challenging to go against social norms, but I knew I had to move forward," she asserts, highlighting the personal sacrifices made.
Scaling Up: The Bakery Unit and Pandemic Resilience
The next major milestone occurred in 2017 when an NGO assisted her in setting up a bakery unit at the same house where she once operated her dairy. "They provided training from a professional chef and helped us with marketing," Pooja notes. Just as the business began gaining momentum, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The supporting NGO, facing its own financial constraints, withdrew from the project, leaving Pooja struggling. At one critical point, she lacked even the funds to pay her electricity bill.
Instead of surrendering, she adapted swiftly. She pivoted to producing affordable, millet-based biscuits. "We survived during Covid, and all the women working with us continued to have a source of income," Pooja states proudly, underscoring her commitment to her team.
Growth, Recognition, and National Impact
Today, her operation has blossomed into a small but highly organized rural enterprise. It provides direct employment to approximately 20 women and offers work and financial support to nearly 150 women indirectly. The group directly sources grains from farmers, operates its own flour mills, and manages production entirely in-house to ensure stringent quality control.
They also produce customized products and undertake white-labelling, accepting orders from diverse clients. In 2023, Pooja was officially recognized as a "Lakhpati Didi," a government initiative celebrating women entrepreneurs earning more than Rs 1 lakh annually through self-help groups. Government orders began flowing in, significantly expanding the scale of operations. Among the most notable assignments was supplying 15 lakh laddoos for the mid-day meal scheme in West Bengal. Her products are now available in HAFED stores across Haryana, and she regularly handles substantial bulk orders, propelling her enterprise into a new league of rural businesses.
The Birth of 'Millet Mom' and Continued Accolades
In November 2024, Pooja registered her company, Kshitiz Pvt Ltd, and launched her flagship brand, "Millet Mom." Products are sold through the company's website, with ambitious plans underway to expand distribution via major e-commerce platforms. Recognition has followed her steadily through the years:
- Agri Leadership Award in 2015
- Innovative Farmer Award in 2016
- The prestigious Nari Shakti Award from the President of India in 2022
More recently, on March 2, 2026, she participated in a high-profile roundtable meeting with Diana Fox Carney, wife of Mark Carney, at the Embassy of Canada in Delhi.
Empowering a Collective of Women
Beyond her personal success, Pooja views her greatest achievement as the collective progress of the women she mentors. Nearly 150 women are now associated with the self-help groups she guides—earning stable incomes, gaining immense confidence, and stepping into roles that once seemed entirely unattainable.
"Through self-help groups (SHG), the women not only get the work but also financial support in time of need. The money brought respect and recognition in their house and family," says Pooja. She adds with pride that many women in her SHG network are now Lakhpati Didis themselves, and some have even launched their own independent ventures, creating a powerful ripple effect of empowerment across rural Haryana.
