From kitchen corners to culinary queen!

In the serene hills of Sokni-Da-Kot, tucked away in Khaniyara of Dharamsala Block, a quiet revolution has taken shape. It doesn’t roar—it sizzles on the tawa, steams in momo baskets and simmers with ambition. Meet Rita Devi, once a homemaker hidden behind four walls, now the proud owner of SK Fast Food, the go-to spot for piping-hot momos and inspiration.

Just a few years ago, Rita’s world was weighed down by worry. Her husband’s daily-wage earnings barely covered essentials. Dreams? Distant. Dignity? Dented. But deep inside, Rita held on to a silent spark—a desire to change, to rise.

That spark turned into a flame the day she joined the Jai Ambey Maa Self Help Group under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). Through skill training and guidance, Rita found something she’d never been told she had—potential.

With a Rs 1,00,000 loan backed by her SHG, she rolled up her sleeves and turned a corner of her home into a dream project. A momo-making machine, an atta mixer, and unstoppable courage gave birth to SK Fast Food—a buzzing eatery now serving over 40 customers a day and earning her Rs 20,000–Rs 25,000 a month.

But this story isn’t just about earnings—it’s about evolution. Rita Devi has become more than a vendor—she’s a mentor, a trailblazer, a symbol of resilience. Her words echo with pride: “I never thought I’d run a business. Now I’m earning, inspiring others, and finally, I’m seen.”

From invisible to unstoppable, Rita’s journey captures the soul of NRLM: giving women not just livelihoods, but lives full of voice, value, and victory.

Himachal Tribune