Thread by @thebetterindia

“Back then, most catering businesses were run by men, and I faced much opposition from my family and society.

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#Inspiration #WomenEntrepreneurs #IndianFood #SeniorCitizens #Odisha #TheBetterIndia

Finding a girl for my son was difficult, as nobody was ready to marry their daughters to a family where the lady of the house worked as a caterer. But, I never gave up on my work or my hope,” says 74-year-old Santoshini Mishra, who runs a catering business in Sambalpur, Odisha.

Santoshini's husband used to run a pan shop and was the family's sole breadwinner. But he had to quit his business due to an illness, and the whole responsibility fell on her shoulders.

Not the one to complain, she took over all the duties single-handedly and cared for her entire family, including her children’s education and her husband’s treatment. "I cook well and enjoy it, so I decided to take this up as a job when the situation demanded.

So, I have been working for the past 40 years,” she says the 75-year-old businesswoman. Currently, Santoshini’s team has around 100 employees, most of whom are women. While she likes to do all the work alone, her sons also help manage large orders.