🌱 Pooja Sharma: The Renowned Agripreneur Who Baked Community Change

In the heart of Chandu village near Gurugram, Haryana, lives a woman whose journey shifted from domestic constraints to business leadership. Pooja Sharma shattered norms to become the first woman in her village to work outside the home - all while nurturing hope, independence, and opportunity for hundreds of women.

🌾 Early Challenges and Vision

When Pooja reached Class 10, her parents pulled her out of school to avoid co-education - reflecting the societal barriers many girls face. Married in 1999, she found herself navigating financial stress and limited opportunities. Yet, Pooja did not resign herself to fate. With rural training from KVK Shikoupur in 2012, she learned food processing and ignited her entrepreneurial spark.

🤝 The Birth of "Kshitiz"

In 2013, Pooja formed a self-help group named Kshitiz. This wasn’t just about income - it was her bold step toward community upliftment. She persuaded her husband and other village men that women working outside the home could be a source of pride, not shame. Under her leadership, Kshitiz became a hub for agro-processing, empowering women to transform grains into nutritious food products.

🍪 From Haunted Mansion Bakery to City Kitchens

In 2010, Pooja took charge of a family haveli - rumored to be haunted - and transformed it into a food-production unit. Rejecting sewing, she focused on food items with demand. By 2017, with NGO support, she launched a bakery under the brand "ZingnZest", producing cookies and soynut snacks from ingredients like flaxseed, oatmeal, and walnuts. Today, her bakery employs around 150 women and supplies upscale Gurugram stores.

🏆 Recognition & Community Impact

Pooja’s success earned her widespread recognition. The Haryana government honored her for agricultural innovation, and in 2016, she received the prestigious Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Krishi Puraskar and Innovative Krishi Samman from ICAR.

On International Women's Day 2022, the President of India awarded her the Nari Shakti Puraskar - the nation’s highest civilian honor for women - for her exceptional contribution in skill development, entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment.

💬 A Voice of Motivation

When Pooja speaks of her journey, her strength and humility shine through. Pooja’s story isn’t just about business - it’s about changing cultural narratives. She demonstrates that:

• ✊ Empowerment begins at home, with small acts of courage.
• 🌾 Agriculture can be an avenue for dignity, innovation, and economic uplift.
• 👩‍🦱 A determined woman can break stereotypes and create a legacy.

Pooja Sharma continues to inspire - transforming a once-haunted mansion into a beacon of purpose, and reminding us that when one woman sparks change, entire communities emerge from the shadows.