Penned By Communications Manager, Aditi
*To learn more about this partnership, explore our earlier blog on our collaboration with MSME. Link:Empowering Women Through MSME Partnership
12th January 2026, marked a deeply meaningful milestone at Sharana as we celebrated the successful completion of the MSME Food Processing Training Program, an initiative designed not only to build skills, but to open pathways to independence, dignity, and self-belief. What began on the 6th of November as a training program grew into something far more transformative: a journey of confidence, courage, and possibility.
At the very beginning of the event, a moment of deep significance set the tone for the day. A special shield was presented to Rajkala Partha, Founder of Sharana, in recognition of the strong partnership between the Government and Sharana, and of her long-standing belief that women are the true heroes of a lasting social change. It was a powerful reminder that this program stood on years of trust, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment.
Founder/President Rajkala Partha receiving a shield.
Over the course of six weeks, the women were introduced to the essentials of food processing, quality control, hygiene standards, and small-scale enterprise development. Alongside technical learning, something deeper took shape. The women began to see themselves not just as trainees, but as entrepreneurs—women capable of planning, creating, and building something of their own. With each passing week, the classroom became a space of shared learning, encouragement, and growing self-confidence.
This program was made possible through a meaningful partnership between Sharana and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), reflecting a shared commitment to empowering women through skill development and livelihood opportunities.
The closing ceremony brought together everyone who made this journey possible. We were honoured to welcome Dr. Altaf Ahmed, Assistant Director, MSME–DFO, Chennai, and Preetika Sharma, Assistant Director, MSME Testing Station, Puducherry. They were joined by Vandana Shah, Operations Director of Sharana, Mr. Siddheshwaran, MSME Consultant & Career Development Coach, A. Prakash, Program Manager, the course instructors, and Sharana’s dedicated team of women social workers.
One of the most inspiring moments of the day came when the women presented the food products they had learned to prepare during the training. Each product reflected patience, practice, experimentation, and pride. The women also shared their business ideas and future plans, speaking with growing confidence about what they hoped to build in the months ahead. Several of the products were sampled by the guests, who acknowledged both their quality and the promise they carried.
Beyond the learning and the outcomes, something equally powerful had taken root, a quiet but strong sense of sisterhood. Many women had entered the programme as strangers, unsure and hesitant. They stood together at the end as a group connected by shared effort, mutual encouragement, and the confidence to move forward together.
The room was filled with gratitude as participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity and for their trainer, Ms. Rahammad, whose guidance, patience, and encouragement supported them every step of the way.
In his address, Dr. Altaf Ahmed described the women as the true success stories of the program, encouraging them to continue learning and reminding them that consistency and growth are the strongest foundations for long-term success.
Dr. Altaf Ahmed addressing the women
Operations Director Vandana Shah addressing the women
Echoing this sentiment, Vandana Shah spoke of how proud Sharana was of every woman who completed the program. She reminded the participants that while the training had come to an end, their journey was only just beginning and that Sharana would continue to walk alongside them as they took their next steps forward. A. Prakash, Program Manager, delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating the collective effort of MSME, the trainers, Sharana’s team, and the women who made the programme a success.
The program concluded with the distribution of 30 certificates, each one representing far more than the completion of a course. They symbolised new confidence, new direction, and new possibilities.
This initiative stood as a shared success for Sharana and MSME, and more importantly, as a powerful reminder of what can happen when opportunity meets determination. Yesterday, thirty women moved forward not just with certificates in their hands, but with belief in their abilities and confidence in their futures.
