From Silence to Spark: How Tara Kulkarni Lit Up Her Life with Courage
For most people, a flickering lightbulb is just an inconvenience.
For Tara Kulkarni, it was a symbol of her entire life—dim, uncertain, and in need of a restart.
Tara, 32, lives in the small village of Shindolli in Belagavi, Karnataka. Her days once followed a quiet rhythm: caring for her two children, managing a home on a shoestring budget, and navigating life with a locomotor disability that affects her right leg. Her father and husband worked as daily wage laborers. There were no extra hours in the day, and certainly no extra money at the end of the month.
But Tara had something quietly powerful—a refusal to give up.
She scraped together ₹90,000 and opened Sri Raghavendra Electricals, a tiny shop selling electrical goods. It was her way of saying: “I can do more.” But starting a business is never easy, especially when you’re also fighting social bias and physical limitations. Her income barely crossed ₹7,500 a month—not enough to repay debts or feed her children. The shop lights were on, but Tara’s spirit was dimming.
Then, a phone call from a childhood friend sparked a turning point.
“Why don’t you talk to Youth4Jobs?” her friend suggested. That one line shifted everything.
Through Youth4Jobs, Tara was introduced to Divyang Mitra and signed up for a 30-day training in self-employment for persons with disabilities. What she gained wasn’t just business knowledge—it was a new lens to see her own potential.
She learned how to manage money, attract customers, and stay resilient through business ups and downs. Most importantly, she discovered that entrepreneurship isn’t about having it all—it’s about believing in yourself.
Today, Tara’s business is thriving. She now earns over ₹10,000 a month. But ask her what changed the most, and she won’t say income.
She’ll say confidence.
“I used to feel invisible. Now, people walk into my shop and listen to me. They respect me. I feel seen.” – Tara Kulkarni
💡 Start Your Journey Today
Tara’s story shows that with the right support, persons with disabilities can become successful entrepreneurs, business owners, and changemakers.
If you or someone you know is a person with a disability looking for livelihood opportunities, business training, or jobs tailored for persons with disabilities—Youth4Jobs Foundation can help you take that first step.
Register on Swarajability—India’s first AI-powered job platform for persons with disabilities.
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Join a Youth4Jobs training center and start your journey to independence. Register here or call us today!
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