The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has highlighted how financial assistance from the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) has helped an OBC woman entrepreneur in Kerala establish her own business. Mini Devi, from Wayanad district, used the support to transform from a homemaker into the owner of a driving school that now serves her community.
The loan and the business
Mini Devi received an individual self-employment loan of Rs 3 lakh from the NBCFDC through the Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation (KSBCDC) in 2025. She used the funds to purchase a training vehicle and set up office and classroom facilities for her driving school, Malanad Driving School.
The venture was designed with a specific focus. Mini Devi wanted to offer women learners a comfortable and supportive environment to gain driving skills. Her business model addresses a real gap: helping women become more mobile, confident and self-reliant through professional driving instruction.
Since starting operations, Mini Devi’s monthly income has reached approximately Rs 40,000, according to her own account. This represents a significant improvement in her financial position and marks a shift away from depending entirely on household income.
What this means for you
If you are an OBC woman with a business idea but lack the capital to start, the NBCFDC and its state-level partners like KSBCDC offer self-employment loans that could bridge that gap. The scheme is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs overcome financial barriers and build sustainable income sources. Mini Devi’s case shows how access to affordable credit, combined with institutional support, can enable women to launch enterprises that create jobs and serve community needs.