When asked about the inspiration behind MINA Jaipur and her journey since its inception, Shivangi shared:. ” When I started working at BRS in 2018, I became enamoured by the intricate process of jewellery manufacturing, particularly the beautiful enamel detailing on our jadau pieces. Wanting to create something versatile for myself, I designed the iconic Gaia evil eye bracelet, which could stay on my wrist whether I was in the office, on the tennis court, or in the kitchen. Unknowingly, that was the inception of MINA. Customers at our store soon began inquiring about how they could order one for themselves or their friends. Around the same time, silver transitioned from being seen as ‘junk’ or ‘artificial’ to being popularised as ‘demi-fine’. Seeing this as a promising opportunity, we launched our Instagram page @mina.jaipur in 2020 and our website minajaipur.com in 2023.
Shivangi measures the impact of her efforts on the lives of those she has upskilled using six key metrics: income growth, employment opportunities, financial stability, quality of life, long-term career trajectory, and testimonials. She aims to empower women in an industry traditionally dominated by men and boys, aspiring to see more female artisans in jewellery manufacturing. She personally visits villages to inspire and motivate girls and women to join her workforce, sharing numerous success stories to encourage them. Despite the short span of her initiative, she has already transformed many lives. Today, we are sharing a few of these inspiring stories with our readers.
Lalita Bairwa: Lalita, from Nanchipuri village, faced a dire situation when her husband was paralyzed after an accident shortly after the birth of their second child. She had some embroidery skills but needed job security. After joining Surraya, she quickly learned filing and soldering. Over the past year, she has become confident and independent, and through the ESI benefits provided by the company, she has been able to secure the right treatment for her husband.
Guddi Devi: Growing up in a village near Jaipur in extreme poverty, Guddi was married young, with her husband being the sole breadwinner for their family of five. With a desire to uplift her family, Guddi was introduced to Surraya by a friend who had trained there. Within months, Guddi mastered techniques like puwai and filing. Her dedication and hard work have enabled her to support her family, providing better nutrition and education for her children.
Komal Singh Bisht: Komal’s story is a testament to the transformative power of the right resources. Initially interviewing for a female guard position despite having a college degree and telemarketing experience, Komal was trained as an administrative assistant at Surraya. Within six months, she mastered government regulations related to ESI and PF and now serves as the HR manager, overseeing all statutory factory regulations.
