Prashant Mahadevrao Bavane was running a small chiwda and tea shop, Shri Ma Ambika Chiwda Bhandar & Sweet Mart, in Kalamb. Limited working capital, an underdeveloped shop setup and low customer footfall kept his monthly income at around Rs.20,000 and made household expenses difficult to manage.

Through the Udyogmitra Project under ESAF Skill LEAP, Prashant received end-to-end business guidance. He was supported with Udyam Registration, Shop Act licensing and other documentation and was guided in preparing a loan application under the ESAF VVY scheme.

Prashant successfully accessed a Rs.50,000 loan to improve his shop infrastructure. Alongside financial linkage, he received practical guidance on hygiene, customer service, supplier relationships and shop presentation. These changes improved the business environment and increased customer footfall and visibility.

His monthly income has since increased from Rs.20,000 to Rs.40,000, strengthening the family’s financial stability. The enterprise has also created one additional employment opportunity. Prashant has applied for further finance to expand the business, demonstrating how structured handholding and access to formal financial services can strengthen small enterprises.