Founder’s Note
In the heart of Assam, where simplicity and tradition intertwine, lived a young woman named Anju Saikia. Born and raised in the village of Bhurbandha, her journey from a sheltered childhood to becoming a source of strength and opportunity for rural women is a story of resilience, community, and quiet determination.
Anju grew up with her parents and brother in a deeply nurturing environment. Both her parents worked in the medical field under the Government of Assam, ensuring stability and emotional security for their children. They protected Anju and her brother fiercely, rarely allowing them to venture far from home. While this limited their physical freedom, it built a childhood filled with warmth and care, one that later gave Anju the emotional grounding she would need when life changed unexpectedly.
After completing her studies, Anju married her partner, Diganta Saikia, an artist and businessman.
“Together, we dreamed of starting something of our own,” Anju recalls. The couple opened a clothing showroom in Morigaon, a small venture filled with hope, excitement, and the promise of a new beginning.
For a while, everything went beautifully. Their business grew steadily, and their shared dream seemed within reach. But then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and altered the course of their lives.
“The showroom had to shut down. Everything we worked for collapsed,” Anju shares. The sudden lockdown forced them into financial and emotional turmoil, leaving them with nothing but the will to start again.
Two years later, driven by resilience, Anju and Diganta decided to rebuild their lives from scratch. They created a pickle brand called Sonaivalley, named after the land they cherished. But this wasn’t just a business idea—it was a chance to reconnect with their roots and uplift others along the way.
“We didn’t want only a business. We wanted to give back,” she says. They began hiring women from the village who had never worked before and who faced social restrictions, family pressures, or limited opportunities. Sonaivalley soon became a safe and dignified space for these women to earn, learn, and find their sense of independence.
A turning point came unexpectedly. “One day, someone from the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) saw our pickle advertisement on Facebook,” Anju recalls. He reached out to her, shared information about DEF, and offered training and support. Through this opportunity, Anju set up a SoochnaPreneur Business Mitra Center in her home, where she began training rural women in digital tools and essential services.
With DEF’s support, Anju received training in Guwahati and Kolkata, gaining new skills to strengthen her business and empower others. She introduced women to government schemes such as Krisarthak, Udyamini, FSSAI registration, ABHA cards, and platforms like MeraBill App and MeraApp. Over time, she became a knowledge multiplier in her community. Today, she has trained between 1,500 and 2,000 rural women, many of whom are now earning ₹4,000–₹5,000 per month for the first time in their lives. Anju herself now earns ₹10,000–₹15,000 per month through her digital center and pickle business.
“Sonaivalley is not just a pickle business; it’s a symbol of hope,” she says. The women who work with her are no longer just workers, but entrepreneurs, mothers, and confident leaders.
“Through DEF, I learned that earning your own wage is one of the most respectful things a person can do. It’s not just about money, it’s about dignity and independence.”
What began as a small home business has now grown into a ripple of empowerment that has touched thousands of lives.
“My dream was never just about me,it was always about the women who needed a chance,” Anju says proudly.
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