Ragi Rasoi: A Small Step Towards Shared Growth

Ritesh Kumar, originally from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is currently working in Ranchi under the School of Climate and Sustainability (SoCS) program. A graduate in Economics (Hons.) from Manipal University Jaipur, Ritesh focuses on livelihood and sustainability-linked interventions at the community level.

 

During his field engagement in Ranchi, Ritesh met a group of 15 women who prepared nutritious and delicious millet ladoos rooted in traditional knowledge. While the quality of their product was strong, they struggled with limited market access, low visibility, and a lack of confidence in selling beyond their immediate surroundings.

 

What stood in their way was not skill, but opportunity. This observation led Ritesh to shape his Personal Development Project (PDP) around creating a small, sustainable business platform that could generate income, dignity, and confidence for the women.

 

After multiple conversations and trust-building efforts, the group agreed to try something new. Together, they worked on product refinement, packaging, pricing, and—most importantly—believing in the value of their work. The initiative was named “Ragi Rasoi”, reflecting both nutrition and home-grown effort.

 

On 1st January, Ritesh organised the first market stall, gaining firsthand exposure to customer behaviour, pricing challenges, and communication. The response was encouraging people tasted the ladoos, appreciated them, and asked for more. This momentum led to local shopkeepers stocking Ragi Rasoi products, resulting in repeat demand.

 

So far, the team has sold around 50 dabbas of ladoos. More than numbers, the real impact lies in the growing confidence of the women. Ragi Rasoi shows how small, well-intentioned steps can create meaningful, shared growth—where entrepreneurship becomes a pathway to empowerment, not just profit.