Haldwani: Sakshi Belwal: Women in Business: 29-year-old Sakshi Belwal, who was once striving to balance professional responsibilities with family needs, likely never imagined that a difficult decision would steer her life in a new direction. When she was unable to secure a two-month leave during her mother’s surgery, Sakshi decided to quit her job. This decision marked the beginning of her journey toward self-reliance. Today, she runs a business creating handmade crochet products from her home, providing employment to seven women from various parts of the Kumaon region.
From a Job at Architect Firm to Building her own Dreams: Story of Sakshi
A resident of Halduchaur, Haldwani, Sakshi holds a master’s degree and has completed a course in interior and exterior designing. Before launching her business, she worked for about two years at an architecture firm in Haldwani. While employed there, she needed extended leave for her mother’s surgery but was unable to get it. Sakshi quit her job, and this experience prompted her to consider a line of work that would allow her to manage her career alongside her family responsibilities.
During this search, she had the opportunity to attend a two-day bootcamp organized by the ‘Devbhoomi Entrepreneurship Scheme’ at her college. Encouraged by her teachers and friends, she participated in the program. At the bootcamp, she learned that a business could be started using one’s skills and even limited resources. This experience proved to be a turning point for her.
Sakshi says, “After attending the bootcamp, I felt that if others could start a business with limited resources, training, and their own skills, then why couldn’t I?”
Journey of Diva Dangles
Subsequently, in October 2023, she launched her crochet business under the name ‘Diva Dangles.’ She started with an investment of just ₹5,000. Today, alongside various crochet items, she creates products such as toys, bags, scarves, cardigans, and tops for children using cotton yarn.
The beginning was not easy. While manufacturing products for the business was a challenge, gaining access to the market proved to be an even greater hurdle. Sakshi began reaching out to local gift shops. Her products received a positive response in Bhimtal, Kasar Devi, and Almora, gradually paving the way for her to explore new markets for her business. Setting up her first stall at a mega startup event in Dehradun was one of her early experiences in this journey.
Institutional Support that Guided Way Ahead
Over time, Sakshi expanded beyond the local market to leverage digital platforms. Today, her products reach customers through Instagram, Facebook, B2B channels, and Meesho. She has participated in over 50 exhibitions and fairs to date, including events at venues such as IIM Kashipur, Pragati Maidan (Delhi), and Doon University (Dehradun).
Institutional support also played a role in growing her business. Sakshi received support and guidance from the RBI (Rural Business Incubator) in 2023 and from MSME-related initiatives in 2024. She learned about various government schemes and opportunities during the International Trade Fair held at Pragati Maidan. The RBI’s online training sessions and interactive programs also helped her understand and expand her business.
According to Sakshi, “Initially, our reach and scope were limited. We gained a lot of information and assistance from the RBI’s online training sessions and meetings.”
A Strong Source of Livelihood for Many
The initial investment of ₹5,000 has now grown to approximately ₹35,000–₹40,000. Sakshi states that her current monthly turnover is around ₹55,000, while her annual turnover ranges between ₹6 lakh to ₹7 lakh. However, for her, business success is not limited to these figures alone.
She now works with seven women from various parts of Kumaon. Sakshi provides them with raw materials and pays them making charges based on the finished products. What began as a small home-based venture has thus evolved into a source of livelihood for other women as well; the group produces at least 1,000 items per month.
However, challenges remain in the market for handmade products. Handcrafted goods face stiff competition from lower-priced, machine-made products available online. Despite these challenges, Sakshi views her work as more than just a business; she sees it as a means to stand on her own feet and provide opportunities to other women. She says, “I am no longer dependent on others, and I am also providing employment to other women. This has significantly boosted my self-confidence.”
The business has also brought about changes in her personal life. Compared to a conventional job, she now has more time for her family. Her family, who stood by her from the very beginning, now takes even greater pride in her work.
The Future Vision
Her vision for the future extends beyond her business. With the aim of working in the fields of women’s empowerment and skill development, she has launched an NGO named ‘Nari Sutra Foundation.’ She aspires to make women financially self-reliant by equipping them with valuable skills.
Sakshi’s message to other women and the youth is rooted in her own journey. She says, “You may start small, but always think big. Keep working hard, keep learning, and never underestimate your dreams.”
Sakshi’s story exemplifies the fact that circumstances do not always favor us, yet sometimes those very situations pave the way for new beginnings. Leaving her job during her mother’s surgery was a decision born of necessity, but the path that emerged from that choice has not only made her self-reliant but has also created employment opportunities for seven other women. What began in Halduchaud, the journey of ‘Diva Dangles’ is now advancing towards the goals of skill-building, self-reliance, and women’s empowerment.
