Impact Stories

Entrepreneurship support for Sayna Mansuri

Life has not been the bed of roses for Sayna Mansuri. 20-year-old Sayna is a resident of Fatehwadi, a neighbourhood in North Ahmedabad comprising of small one room units. Since childhood, her family has seen struggles over their earnings. Both parents were burning the midnight oil to run the house and provide education to their three daughters. But this was not enough to support growing household expenses. Hence, Sayna along with her studies started to learn basic make-up skills and other related salon services through online videos to add an extra income.

All was going well despite their struggles until the second wave of Covid19 hit the family. Sayna lost her father in April during the second wave and the family lost their primary breadwinner. It was a huge blow to them. She said, "My father had high sugar and heart attack twice earlier and then he contracted Covid19. He recovered from it but its heavy effect on heart and diabetes couldn't keep him alive much longer." Her eyes moisten as she narrates this. Her family got support from other family members for groceries and some financial assistance. Sayna, being the eldest, decided to face the odds and went for professional training to work in a salon. She started earning more to contribute to the dwindling family income.

One fine day, she thought she should open her salon but it needed financial investment that she couldn’t afford. Then, as luck would have it, through a family friend, she learnt about Infoanalytica Foundation. Infoanalytica Foundation’s initiative Mazdoor.co helps informal labourers make a livelihood. Upon her request through the family friend, the foundation funded her to rent a space and start a salon of her own. The company bore 70% of the initial investment to get chairs, mirrors and other furniture in salon and she spent the remaining 30%.

Stepping inside her salon, the cleanliness, simplicity and its maintenance immediately make an impression. When there are no customers, she prepares for her exams. Sanya wants to pursue MA in English after finishing her undergraduate studies. When asked her about the journey, she states, "My father was an auto driver. His earnings were limited to Rs 4,000 per month. My mother has been a helping hand in the family. She stitches clothes and earns Rs 500 per day. It is difficult to run the house with this income in today's time. My interest explored in watching videos on how to do make-up, eye brows, clean up and I first started experimenting on myself. I also learnt about different beauty products. This started from Class 9."

It is the only salon near her residential area. So, it has an advantage to get customers. She is very happy with the outcome as she feels women don't like to visit homes. They prefer a salon and this looks professional too. “I can concentrate more on work”, says Sayna working a 12 hour shift. She is not sitting on her laurels though, currently she is upgrading her skills by learning hair smoothening and other spa techniques sponsored by the Infoanalytica Foundation. She currently earns Rs 9,000 but aims to do better in wedding season. She feels good that she doesn't have to ask for money from her mother. She takes care of her two young sisters spending on their education like fees, books and bags.

As we take her leave, Sayna recalls her father's advice of always being self reliant. She aims to start many more branches and train many girls like her. Her immediate goal is to ensure her rise in earning so that her mother doesn't have to work as a tailor anymore. Studying in third year of her undergraduate degree, she says, "I set up Noor Beauty Salon in March 2022. The wedding season will take off soon. So, I am expecting better footfalls."

She says, "Never give up. One has to keep smiling and work hard." She is grateful to InfoAnalytica Foundation for providing financial support to her in pursuing her dream of being an entrepreneur.