It is said that failure is an essential part of success. Janak Neupane (32 years old), a resident of Jumla who earned a living by working in India, was compelled to return to Nepal after the COVID-19 pandemic. Having spent the last 5 years in Gujarat, India, Janak had set up a rice mill and sold various goods alongside it upon his return to the village. While living there, he accumulated an opportunity to work in the rice mill for a year. Fueled by this aspiration, he returned to the village, wanted to start a water mill, and dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur.
Investing three and a half lakh Nepali rupees, earned through hard work and savings, in a water mill proved challenging. However, the lack of investment did not deter Janak; instead, it motivated him. The local-level employment creation initiative, the Srijana Project, understood Janak’s aspirations and supported him in realizing his dream. When the purchased machine faced technical issues, the project provided assistance by supplying materials to run the machine with electricity. With the convenience of electricity, Janak’s determination was boosted. Although his initial dream of becoming an entrepreneur by operating a rice mill faced temporary setbacks, the support from the project turned his dream into reality, and he happily engaged in diligent efforts and hard work.
As a result, his business flourished. Janak provides services at 75% lower prices than others in his mill. Grateful for the completion of his dream project, he states, “With the support of the Srijana Project, my entrepreneurial dream has been successful. Therefore, considering it as an incentive, I provide services at a 75% lower price.” Most of the people in his village engage in rice milling, especially in processing Marsi rice, which is well-known throughout Jumla and beyond. Customers are extremely satisfied with the hardworking Janak, who offers minimal fees for services. Despite the modest income, he manages to generate an average profit of Rs. 2,000 daily, ensuring a good livelihood for his parents, wife, and two children.
Janak, who had little knowledge about the problems with the machine, learned as he progressed. He says, “Understanding the condition of the machine and its problems, I can now troubleshoot the machine issues myself.”
Alongside his rice mill, Janak operates ‘G Square Janak Retail Shop,’ where he sells daily essential food items. In addition, he also raises poultry. His poultry farm currently has 35–40 chickens. The income from the shop strengthens his financial position. While the production of quality rice husks is ensured by the mill, Janak expresses his plan to expand his business by selling rice husks locally in the future. He says, “Rice husks from the mill become chicken feed, and many local poultry farmers depend on them. Therefore, I plan to sell rice husks produced locally in the near future.”
Even though there is a good electric rice threshing machine, the fascination of water mills has not disappeared for Janak. There is an uproar of grinding mustard in his village. There is not a single mustard grinding machine nearby. A river flows right next to his house. Like other farms, good mustard grows there, but because there is no place to grind the grown mustard, only a few people produce it. Those who do, when they come to thresh paddy, ask Janak to install a mustard machine. Even though there is an electric mustard grinding machine on the market, Janak dreams of keeping a water mill to grind mustard because they have good water resources in their place. His father, Gaurilal Neupane, is also confident that local mustard production will increase if a mustard grinding machine is installed. He is extremely happy that his son received support from the Srijana project for understanding his son’s dream project. He believes that there is a great need for oil machines, as many customers who come to grind mustard leave disappointed.
Janak, who returned to Nepal due to the impact of COVID-19, has realized the dream of a water mill with an electric machine, overcoming the hurdles initially posed by a water mill. After overcoming the setbacks of one dream project, he is now riding the wave of another dream after another. Following the rice mill, he dreams of adding chicken feed production and the operation of a wind mill for mustard grinding. The work done by the project in his own place has provided him with the courage to reach his goals while living with his family. Janak, who thrives in his own country with hard work and dedication, is a source of inspiration for many.
