Valli

Valli Devi’s journey with the Naari Circuit initiative in Hoodi shows how structured support and fair partnership
can transform a homemaker and informal scrap worker into a confident community leader and entrepreneur.

Valli Devi is a 32-year-old woman from Bangalore, currently living in Hoodi with her husband and three children. She studied up to 4th standard and spent most of her time managing household responsibilities before joining
Naari Circuit.

Earlier, she had also worked informally with her brother in his scrap-dealing shop, helping to segregate waste for about three hours a day and earning around Rs. 10,000 per month.

Before Naari Circuit, her contribution to the scrap business remained largely invisible, with limited recognition
and low, irregular earnings for the effort she put in. Her working hours were short but unstable, and there were
typical challenges related to informal scrap work such as safety, health risks, and lack of respect for the nature of
the work.

Valli first heard about Naari Circuit through a community meeting facilitated by Netravati, which created curiosity
and interest in this new model of women-led scrap collection and management. She chose to join out of
personal interest and the desire to do something of her own, and her family responded supportively, encouraging her to take up this new opportunity.

This supportive environment at home made it easier for her to step into a more public, leadership-oriented role
for the first time.

Today, Valli serves as a president / partner within the Naari Circuit collective in Hoodi, taking shared responsibility for operations and decision-making rather than working as a daily wage helper. Her work now follows fixed timings, which brings more structure to her day and allows her to balance paid work with household responsibilities more effectively.

Instead of a fixed low wage, she now earns through a profit-sharing model, receiving around 50 percent of the profit margin from the work she does, which significantly improves her income potential compared to her earlier role. Through this journey she has gained new skills, especially in self-confidence, communication and managing work more systematically.

After joining Naari Circuit, Valli reports a clear shift in how she looks at herself and her work, feeling more confident and respected both at home and in the community. Her role in family decisions has begun to change
as her earnings and visible leadership position give her a stronger voice in planning for household needs and children’s futures.

She now feels proud that her work is not only bringing income but is also linked to responsible waste management and a cleaner environment in the neighborhood, which adds a sense of purpose to her daily efforts.

Valli’s aspirations for the coming years focus on securing a better future for her children and achieving full financial stability for her family through the Naari Circuit enterprise. She feels that the most helpful aspect of Naari Circuit has been the consistent guidance and the chance to learn by doing in a supportive, women-led
space.

At the same time, she believes she still needs continued support from Naari Circuit and government systems until she and her team gain complete knowledge and confidence in all aspects of running the business independently.

When Valli reflects on her journey, she highlights the shift from being seen only as a helper in a relative’s scrap shop to being recognized as a president / partner who takes decisions and shares profits in her own right. A small but powerful example is how neighbors and family members now approach her with respect when they talk about waste collection or financial matters, acknowledging her as someone who runs a serious, organized enterprise rather than informal, “time-pass” work.

For Valli, Naari Circuit has turned an invisible worker into a visible leader, demonstrating how investing in
women’s skills, confidence and fair profit-sharing can transform both livelihoods and dignity.