HIM MSME FEST 2026: Himachal Women share the success stories of Enterprise, Draw Applause One by One
Shimla:
At HIM MSME FEST 2026 held here, women entrepreneurs from across Himachal Pradesh took the stage one after another, sharing how they built their enterprises through steady work, learning and correction.
As each speaker finished, the hall responded with sustained applause—recognition not for slogans, but for outcomes delivered on the ground.
Ishleen Kaur opened the session by explaining her shift from freelance sales and marketing to founding The Apex Institute of Learning and Development in 2021. She spoke about replacing monthly uncertainty with structured consulting systems.
Her account of building a six-member team and serving clients in India, the US, UAE and Australia drew the first round of applause from participants.
From Ambota village, Nishu Lata Sood followed, detailing the growth of Nishu Food Products since 1998. She explained how she maintained product consistency, expanded into millet-based foods and trained women across Himachal, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. Her focus on process and quality earned warm appreciation from the audience.
Environmental entrepreneur Mamta Chander then shared the journey of Mountain Bounties, describing how linking women’s livelihoods with forest conservation reduced pressure on natural resources in Kullu.
Her explanation of women-led collection and value addition of apricot, rosehip and nettle products was met with strong applause.
Agripreneur Reeva Sood spoke next about starting Agriva Naturally in 2022, outlining her shift to chemical-free farming and value-added produce such as fresh juices. Participants acknowledged her practical approach to organic markets with another round of claps.
Group enterprises took the stage as Reena Chandel of Umang and Neelam Verma of RS Food Products shared how self-help groups and institutional support created regular incomes for dozens of women. Their accounts of collective work and steady earnings resonated widely, drawing loud approval.
From tribal and remote regions, Deep Mala Negi (Kinnaur Mountain Treasure), Man Dasi (Zerim SHG), and Pavna Kumari (Pavna Handloom Centre) spoke in sequence, explaining how traditional skills, digital tools and market access helped reduce migration and sustain village livelihoods. Each story received attentive listening and appreciative applause.
The session concluded with presentations by Selfan (Aurnika), Dr Gunjan Joshi (Basant Eye Clinic), Yogitraj Sharma (Devtaru), and Anita Nalwa (Lahaul Basket). They spoke about design-led crafts, healthcare services, product setbacks and recovery, and diversification from wool to herbal products. As they shared their experiences one by one, the participants acknowledged their work with steady clapping.
The meet underlined a clear message: these were women of substance, presenting work that stands on systems, skills and sustained effort—an approach that earned recognition from the floor throughout the day.
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