Empowering Rural Rajasthan: Two Success Stories from DS Group's Entrepreneurship Drive

Udaipur, Rajasthan. In the remote villages of Udaipur, Rajasthan, small ventures are changing lives. A team from TheCSRUniverse had the opportunity to visit some of these places and witness firsthand how individual aspirations, with a little support from local NGOs, are bringing a change to the socio-economic landscape of these villages.

About 50 km away from the district headquarters in Udaipur, Gurad village is nestled within the Aravalli ranges. The narrow, dusty lane in the village led us to a small but neatly arranged shop; the banner read "Jamna Ladies Tailoring Centre." The centre is run by a single tailor-cum-owner, Jamna Devi, with a little help from her two teenage sons. When we reached, Jamna was focused on stitching a colourful ghagra and blouse set, her hands moving with practiced ease over the fabric." Before this, I only did household work and helped with farming," she told us in Hindi, offering a glass of water. Her story began when a local NGO, the Manjari Foundation—implementing the Entrepreneurship Development Program of the Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group—conducted a village survey. They identified her potential and enrolled her. "I attended all the training sessions," Jamna said, pointing to the sewing machine set provided by the foundation. "They taught us business and technical skills. They also helped us with sourcing fabric and connected us with shops in the city," she added. After assessing her business plan, the foundation provided her with equipment like a sewing machine set, rack, stool, and promotional banner.

Jamna also added some of her own savings, and with a total investment of about ₹75,000, the Jamna Tailoring Centre came into being.We watched as she demonstrated cutting a pattern for a customer's order—a salwar kameez for a local wedding. Finished garments hung neatly on the rack. She has started getting clients from her village and nearby areas, and this keeps her fully busy. "I handle everything myself, from measuring to cutting to stitching. It gives me a steady income, and I feel independent," she said. “Many women here have skills but no way to start something on their own—no money, no guidance," lamented Jamna.

The Manjari Foundation works across several districts in Rajasthan on women's collectives and livelihood projects. The DS Group funds these as part of its CSR initiatives in livelihood enhancement and water conservation. Jamna’s venture is one of many under the program.

Nearby, in Gudli village, Shivlal Patel runs a small-scale oil extraction unit. His story is even more interesting, as it is also an example of reverse migration success. By the time we reached Shivlal’s small oil mill, the humming of the machine filled the air as daylight was fading fast. We took a few quick photographs immediately after our customary introduction. In the yellow light of an electric bulb, Patel was pouring a sack of seeds into his oil extraction unit, with light golden oil slowly dripping into a container below. “I left for Mumbai years ago to work in the scrap business; the income was unstable—some months we didn’t have work. Instability forced me back to Gudli, worried about how to support my family. “The foundation's survey included him and guided him towards setting up an oil unit using local seeds. Shivlal received comprehensive training on the extraction process, market potential, and business management, including exposure visits.

He invested ₹2,00,000 in total—₹1,40,000 for the oil extraction machine and the rest for shop setup. The foundation supplied packaging bottles and assisted with branding and marketing, helping build customer trust. Shivlal also added some of his personal savings to the business. His unit now has a brand name: “Bheroonath Oil & Flour Mill.” The unit processes locally sourced seeds, such as mustard, groundnut, sesame, and other oilseeds common in the region, into pure, fresh oil. The clientele base is mostly from nearby villages. As city dwellers, these experiences were unique, and we wanted to buy some of the fresh, pure, locally produced oils for our homes, but had to drop the idea as the return journey by flight and added weight could create hassle. However, one of our local colleagues managed to buy a small amount of sesame oil for his home. The Manjari Foundation operates across several districts in Rajasthan, focusing primarily on women's collectives and livelihood projects. The DS Group has joined hands with the Manjari Foundation and Arpan Seva Sans than and has funded many of these initiatives as part of its CSR efforts in this region. These stories highlight how training, equipment provision, and market assistance enable quick results. In Udaipur, such entrepreneurship support has helped create several success stories and has inspired many others to join them.