Latest news with #Chetna
India.com
24-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
College Friends To Foodpreneurs: How Three Youths Built A Rs 30,000 Startup Into A 5-City Desi Snack Brand
Jamshedpur: The idea began on a college street, sparked by nostalgia and hunger. Three students, Dhruv from Siliguri, Chetna from Asansol and Abhishek from Jamshedpur, met while studying in New Delhi and bonded over memories of home-cooked food. What started as friendly conversations soon turned into a full-blown entrepreneurial journey. Today, the trio runs Punch Meal, a startup that sells handcrafted Indian pickles, snacks and laddoos rooted in age-old recipes. The business that began with just Rs 30,000 has grown into a company with manufacturing units across five cities and employment for more than 30 women. The Taste of Home, Bottled and Sold Coming from business families and a commerce background, the three noticed a common thread among students and professionals living away from home – the craving for their grandmother's pickle or a familiar local snack. 'We realised that every time someone travels away from their hometown, they carry homemade pickles or snacks. It is more than food. It is comfort. That is where the idea was born,' says Dhruv. So, they decided to turn this emotional connection into a business. The First Order Took 10 Days With no major funding, the friends pooled together Rs 30,000 to set up Punch Meal. They started small – just a few batches of pickles and basic packaging. 'It was not smooth. It took 10 days to get our first order. But when it came, it gave us the push to keep going,' remembers Chetna. Fast forward to today, Punch Meal handles over 100 orders a day, catering to customers across India. Each founder brings a different strength to the table. Dhruv oversees production and marketing, Chetna manages online sales and logistics and Abhishek looks after overall operations. But the impact of their startup goes beyond profit. Their five units across various cities have become a source of employment for over 30 women, many of whom had never worked outside their homes before. A Modern Twist to Traditional Flavours Punch Meal currently offers 16 varieties of pickles, including sweet-and-sour mango, Banarasi red berry, garlic, jackfruit and wild berries like lasoda and bair. Among these, the lemon and khair varieties have emerged as customer favorites. They have also experimented with snacks to suit younger audiences such as hazelnut-coffee and orange-almond dry fruit laddoos, along with millet-based namkeen and bhujia that cater to the growing demand for healthy options. What began as a kitchen experiment among friends has grown into a full-fledged desi brand with a loyal customer base. As orders rise and their team expands, the founders say they are now exploring tie-ups with organic farmers and looking at exports in the future. And to think – it all began with a craving for home.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Time of India
Man killed after accusing another of affair with relative in Bhavnagar
Rajkot: A man was murdered in Bharoli village of Talaja taluka of Bhavnagar district, allegedly by a man he accused of having an extramarital relationship with his relative. The crime occurred on the night of June 3, but the complaint was filed three days later. The deceased, Ashok Parmar, was reportedly assaulted by Lagdhir Gohil after an heated argument. The FIR was registered by the relative, Chetna Parmar. Chetna is widowed. She lives with her three children in a hut on the farm of Ghelubha Ajubha, where she works as a labourer. The hut has no electricity or amenities. According to Chetna's complaint, Ashok visited her on the night of June 3 with mutton and asked her to cook it. While she was cooking the meal, Gohil arrived at the hut, which upset Ashok and led to an argument. Ashok accused Gohil of having an affair with Chetna, after which matters heated up. During the altercation, Gohil allegedly threw a stone that hit Ashok in the face, rendering him unconscious. He then kicked Ashok in the chest and other parts of the body. As Ashok remained unresponsive, Gohil told Chetna he was drunk and would wake up in the morning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Windows Users Don't Forget To Do This Before Saturday Read More Undo Gohil also threatened to kill her children if she spoke about the altercation. Out of fear, Chetna fled with her children to a nearby farm. When she returned the next day, Ashok was still lying there. She called an ambulance and Ashok was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead. Initially silent due to the threats, Chetna revealed the details to police during her questioning on June 6, after which a complaint was registered against Gohil. Police have launched an investigation into the matter.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chetna honoured with ‘Nritya Kala Bhushan Bal Puraskar 2025'
Nagpur: Bharatanatyam dancer Chetna V, was bestowed with the 'Nritya Kala Bhushan Bal Puraskar' by the Cultural Foundation of India recently. Chetna is Class 10 student of Centre Point School, Amravati Road Bypass. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The elite honour is awarded to just 17 finalists from a competitive pool of over 350 nominations across the country. The award, which includes a framed certificate and gold medal, is a testament to her refined technique, expressive artistry, and unwavering commitment to Bharatanatyam. She is disciple of Guru Smt Ratnam J Nair and Dr Pooja Hirwade. Further cementing her place in the world of dance, Chetna also clinched first prize at two esteemed platforms — Akhil Natrajam and Shri Hari Niketan also won third position in Akhil Bharatiya Sanskrutik Sangh, Pune, earning well-deserved certificates and trophies. CPS-AB principal Perveen Cassad, vice-principal Bhakti Bobde congratulated Chetna. Ratnam Nair, and Dr Pooja Hirwade too expressed their joy and pride in her achievement.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Cloth or pad: Women in jhuggis make a choice
New Delhi: It was just another hot afternoon outside Maharaja Agrasen Hospital — cars honking, rickshaws rattling, vendors shouting. But in the narrow lanes of Shivaji Park, a different scene unfolded. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Under the shade of a jhuggi, a group of women sat huddled, watching a video on menstruation. Ovaries, eggs, blood — it played on a laptop screen. Some giggled, some nodded, some stared. "Yeh sab toh pata hai," a woman said, waving her hand dismissively. But when Asma, the mentor from the NGO Chetna, asked: "How many of you use sanitary pads only", only a few hands went up, that too of girls. The truth trickled out: "Kapda ya sanitary pad?" The answer was: "Jo sasta bhi pade. Toh kabhi kapda, ab kabhi pad bhi!" The NGO, Childhood Enhancement through Training and Action (Chetna), is working with women here on menstrual hygiene awareness and Roopa (name changed) is in the huddle od women. She manages with a pack of six pads every month — when she can afford it. Last month, she couldn't. "Our priorities are different," she said. Others chimed in: pads are a luxury, cloth is the norm. But change is seeping in. Girls like Sanya (name changed) are using free pads they get through school schemes. "Even my mother benefits," Sanya smiled. This wasn't a flashy health camp. It was a small, honest conversation, marking World Menstrual Hygiene Day, in a place where managing periods safely isn't a choice. Only two or three women have been using sanitary pads for five years. How did they dispose it? An older woman answered: "Bury them in the sand." Chetna wants to bring a change. In a baseline survey by the NGO in west and north-west Delhi slums, 59% women reported struggling to afford menstrual products; 64% said buying pads affected family budgets; 57% compromised on essentials like food or school fees; and 45% still followed menstrual myths — such as avoiding bathing, pickles or going to temples. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Kamini (name changed), for instance, never had her mother to guide her. When she got her first period, she turned to her aunt, who told her to use a cloth and follow rules: don't touch pickles, don't enter temples, and stay home. Kamini learned about sanitary pads and menstrual cups in a Chetna session. Now, she uses pads. Tarana (name changed), a 32-year-old mother of six, lives in a west Delhi slum, where open drains and lack of privacy make managing periods a nightmare. She's constantly anxious about being seen while changing her pad. After Chetna's sessions, she feels ready to guide her daughters. Reshma (name changed), 19, was torn between her sister's advice to use sanitary pads and her mother's strict rules: no bath, no cold water, no stretching. Chetna's sessions helped Reshma break free from these myths. Schools are stepping up too. Joginder Kumar, principal of Government Co-Ed Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 21, Rohini, said: "A teacher is appointed under the Kishori Scheme, allowing students to comfortably share their concerns. " Govt supplies sanitary napkins with incinerators and disposers to schools. "These supplies benefit those students who otherwise might struggle to access them," he said. At Ravishankar SKV, Bawana, the initiative goes beyond providing resources. Principal Sunita said, "As part of govt's effort, the directorate of education supplies one packet of free sanitary napkins each month to every girl student from Classes 6 to 12." This year, the school's SAB (School Advisory Board) committee has made menstrual hygiene and nutritional care their top Gupta, director of Chetna, said: "For women in slums, using sanitary napkins is still not a choice. It has a lot to do with money. We hear many tales — from women bound to practice myths in society to a lack of toilets or knowledge on proper disposal methods." After a two-hour stay at the camp, back in the narrow lanes of Shivaji Park, the conversation continued—quiet, hopeful, determined. Women carried on with their day, a sanitary packet in hand.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pencils, not pavements: Kids take ‘class' leap!
New Delhi: For most students, school is an expected academic ladder and passing the board exams a long-accepted formality. But for some, it is a milestone that their families wouldn't have imagined they would ever cross. In west and northwest Delhi, for instance, where schoolbags were once a rare sight, 501 street-connected children had to be helped to attend school by an NGO and many of these kids are the first in their families to sit in classrooms. The annual report by NGO Childhood Enhancement Through Training and Action (Chetna) revealed that it got 254 boys and 247 girls in west and northwest Delhi enrolled in 49 govt and municipal schools for the 2024–25 academic year. Of them, 222 (127 boys and 95 girls) joined primary classes, while 238 (109 boys and 129 girls) were admitted at the upper primary and secondary levels. In the annual examinations held between March and April, 20.3% of 460 street-connected children obtained Grade B (scores between 60 and 79%), 48.2% Grade C (45-59%) and 30.9%, Grade D (33-44%). Girls maintained a higher average attendance of 64.5% than the boy at 61.3%. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Почувствайте комфорта на тези двойни ръчно изработени кожени обувки КУПИ СЕГА Undo Subject-wise, the highest scores were attained in Hindi and social science. Behind the numbers are young lives confronting the odds. Some studied without textbooks, others squinted at borrowed notes under flickering streetlights, some did not even know how to hold a pencil too, while yet others wore school uniforms bought piecemeal. But the common thread connecting them is that they are the first in their families to get this far. One of the students is Asif, who lives in Kirti Nagar's Nehru Camp, surrounded by trash and broken roads. TOI had reported on Asif and four others when they became the first in their families to reach Class X. Four successfully passed the recent board exams. Asif, 15, lives in a cramped makeshift home with Safiya Khatoon, his mother, his grandmother and two uncles. His mother came to Delhi, her maternal home, to flee domestic violence, but without an Aadhaar card, she couldn't admit Asif into a school until Chetna intervened. Khatoon, a domestic worker, said, "I'm overjoyed that Asif passed his Class X CBSE exams, scoring 68.5%. He's the first one in our family to achieve this milestone and this fills me with pride and happiness. I hope my two other children will also complete their education." Asif's schooling, like that of 501 kids, was made possible through Chetna's Mera Basta initiative in collaboration with Toybox Charity. The effort covered areas like Inderlok, Shakurpur, Paschim Vihar and Keshavpuram. Nasir, 14, is also a beneficiary. His father who came to Delhi from Bihar and began working as a loader in an iron factory, did not earn much and Nasir sold diapers at the local Thursday market. But Chetna intervened and got Nasir enrolled in a school. He has now reached Class VII, having scored 53% in the final Class VI exams. The youngster is also a kabaddi player and has won a medal at the district level. Riya, a 12-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh, migrated to Delhi with her mother in search of better opportunities. While her father continues farming in their village, her mother works as a domestic worker in the city. When Riya first started school, she didn't even know how to hold a pencil. However, she made remarkable progress and is now in Class VII, having passed Class VI with 69%. Being promoted to higher classes has not only made the kids happy, but also their parents. Homemaker Pinky said, "I'm happy that my son Nitin progressed from Class VII to VIII. His achievement means a lot to us because the journey isn't easy." Sanjay Gupta, director, Chetna, reaffirmed that his organisation was dedicated to enrolling children in schools every year and supporting them throughout their academic journey. He acknowledged that while the educational outcomes may not yet match those of children from more privileged backgrounds, the progress is a promising indication that consistent investment in street-connected children can make meaningful and lasting change in their lives.
