In 1991, Manipur-based Yangmila Zimik welcomed her son into the world. Her journey into motherhood was anything but conventional. At just 21, unmarried, and without any support from the child’s father, she faced the overwhelming challenge of raising her newborn alone.

“Neither he nor his family took any responsibility for the child. I didn’t receive any alimony either. I was left without emotional or financial support. But how could I turn my back on my child? I took on all the responsibility,” Yangmila recalls. “My father was a great help at first, but after his passing, I had to fend for myself.”

With limited resources, the Class 10 dropout took on various small-scale businesses to support her family. Undeterred, she single-handedly juggled odd jobs — selling vegetables, running a modest tea shop, selling second-hand clothes, and even venturing into poultry farming.

Each endeavour brought valuable lessons, though often accompanied by setbacks. Yet, her spirit remained unshaken. “I wasn’t doing well in these jobs. I even had to quit poultry farming due to bird flu outbreaks and low market rates,” she shares.

Yangmila’s entrepreneurial journey was born out of necessity. In 2016, she ventured into food processing and launched her own company, ‘Shirin Products’, which has since earned her widespread recognition.

From humble beginnings to impactful outcomes

Inspired by childhood memories of enjoying fresh candies made from wild fruits, Yangmila saw a spark of opportunity. In 2015, she began experimenting at home, crafting pickles........

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