For the casual observer, Prerana Khanavali, situated among the lush foliage outside Hasanamba Temple, may appear to be just another eatery, but it is a beacon of hope for four women and their families.
Dharani, Asma, Savitri, and Shobha, all from underprivileged backgrounds, run the Khanavali, which has been in operation since March 2021. The Khanavali, which was established with the support of donations, has helped them get through challenging times in their life. “The best thing is that today we are treated with respect,” they said.
After eight months, they are confident in their ability to sustain the business and are planning to expand.
Dharani and Asma said, “we have a good number of regular customers as we do not compromise on the quality. We have recently started offering snacks in the evenings. On an average, each of us makes anywhere between Rs 100-Rs 350 per day after deducting all our expenses. Besides this, we are also taking up catering orders. It was difficult in the beginning due to the second Covid wave. However, we were supported by a lot of people — we received orders from individuals and organisations to prepare food packets for distribution among the needy”.
Apart from the Khanavali, the difficulties and dreams of these four women, who were either unemployed or had to settle for employment that barely fulfilled their financial needs, are what binds them together: an early marriage, poverty, and a desire to educate their children.
Dharani struggled to make ends meet after her second child was born, and she had to take on odd jobs to make ends meet. Her son, on the other hand, is now studying BCA at a government college in Mysuru.
Meanwhile, Asma has four children, and Shobha is the family's sole breadwinner. Shobha, who previously worked as a tailor before launching Khanavali, holds up both jobs to support her family.
“Life has changed a lot after we opened the hotel,” said Dharani.
They make a variety of cooking ingredients, primarily masala powders, in addition to running the hotel.
Roopa Hassan, an activist and the founder of Prerana Vikasa Vedike, one of the contributors, hopes that the achievement of these women would inspire others.
She said, “this initiative is close to my heart. I am happy that we were able to rehabilitate these women. Today, they are entrepreneurs. It is the real change”.
She underlined, “networking, gaining the confidence of customers, expansion plans including the launch of new services like catering or offering snacks is a daunting task. Inflation is adding to their burden. Still, they are tasting success in the business”.
Among the donors are Dr Savithri A, gynaecologist and obstetrician (Hassan), Ratna Naik, retired associate dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit (USA), writers S Usha, Balasaheb Lokapure, district Scouts and Guides, and Taraswamy Hemalatha, an academician from Mandya, Venkategowda.
