Shakuntala Pyakurel
A Jar Full of Hope
At 57, Shakuntala Pyakurel from Gauradaha has turned quiet determination into powerful change. Founder of Namuna Achar Laghu Udhyog, a small pickle-making business she has run for over a decade, Shakuntala began her journey simply to support her family. Today, her enterprise empowers other women in her community.
Once a full-time homemaker, Shakuntala balanced daily chores with family responsibilities. Though she completed her School Leaving Certificate (SLC), opportunities for women like her were scarce. Still, the desire to create something meaningful never left her. When financial challenges hit her family, she chose to step beyond traditional roles and become a changemaker.
She first worked alongside other women as a community farmer, but the rise of new technology in farming shortened that chapter. Undeterred, Shakuntala pursued Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) training—a turning point that launched her entrepreneurial path.
Today, Shakuntala produces a variety of pickles that capture the spicy, tangy flavors Nepalis love. She later learned about the Growth Entrepreneurship and Employment Promotion (GEEP) program through an SME member in her municipality. After discussing it with a field officer, she joined the program, knowing her business had potential but needed guidance to grow strategically. The training equipped her with new tools for planning and management, while the conditional grant helped improve product storage and presentation, making her enterprise more professional and efficient.
Unlike many in her area, Shakuntala never went abroad searching for work. She’s seen too many young people return exhausted, uncertain of what comes next. She chose instead to build a future on her own land and create opportunities at home. Her goal is to expand her business across Nepal—and eventually beyond—bringing the flavors of home to plates worldwide.
Shakuntala also speaks passionately about the untapped potential in rural Nepal. “So many raw materials go unused simply because there aren’t enough people to process them,” she says. For her, business is about more than income—it’s about dignity, independence, and sustainability. She hopes more women will follow her lead, turning what they have into something valuable.