Jitendra Mahato, a 20-year-old entrepreneur from Gelha, Hariban Municipality-4, has been successfully running a Dunatapari business, earning up to Rs 3,000 daily. He has become a role model in his village by expanding his business Bhajun Baba Dunatapari Industry with new equipment designed for Dunatapari production.
On Monday, Jitendra unveiled the new equipment, expressing his hopes that production will double in the near future. He started his business just nine months ago after participating in a micro-enterprise program organized by Hariban Municipality, where he learned the skill of making Dunatpari.
Presently, Jitendra employs 20 young people in his business, which manufactures Dunatapari from sal and bhorla leaves found in the Chure forest, which would otherwise go to waste. He is a graduate student at Chaturbhujeswor Janata Multiple Campus in Hariban-10 Sukepokhari. Originally, Jitendra had planned to seek foreign employment after completing his class 12, but thanks to the support of Ward Chairman Keshab Raj Thapa, he chose to become an entrepreneur instead.
“I was almost ready to go abroad after finishing class 12, but when I approached the ward chairman for help, he encouraged me to pursue something locally. After attending a seminar on micro-enterprises organized by the municipality, I felt inspired to become an entrepreneur. However, I faced significant challenges due to a lack of investment. Today, I am able to run my business thanks to his support,” he shared.
Due to growing demand for Dunatapari, Jitendra installed new equipment worth Rs 360,000. Previously, he had installed one set of equipment for Rs 240,000, which produced around 5,000 pieces of Dunatapari daily. With the new equipment, his goal is to produce an additional 10,000 pieces per day.
He claims that with the new machinery, the industry can now produce up to 300,000 pieces of Dunatapari monthly. This increase in production will reduce labor, production, and marketing costs, enabling Jitendra to earn Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 daily. As the product is made from tree leaves, it is environmentally friendly, which has made it more popular with consumers compared to plastic products.
Jitendra has urged young entrepreneurs to focus on using locally produced, eco-friendly materials. He believes that involving youth in micro-enterprises will reduce the trend of seeking foreign employment. “At first, banks were hesitant to approve my loan. I didn’t have enough capital to start my business. But now, banks and financial institutions are calling me to offer loans,” he said. “The initial loan of Rs 100,000 I received from Sagun Savings and Loan Cooperative in Hariban has helped me build a successful enterprise.”
The products manufactured by Jitendra’s Bhajun Baba Dunatapari Industry are sold in various markets, including Hariban, Nawalpur, Bagmati, Lalbandi, Barahathwa, Bayalbas, and Malangwa. He mentioned that products such as sal leaves, bhoj leaves, and Dunatpari are being supplied to the market based on consumer demand.
Hariwan Municipality Mayor Ramesh Budhathoki emphasized that the municipality is working on strategies to support aspiring entrepreneurs who lack investment but have the ambition to start their own businesses.
Ward Chairman Keshav Raj Thapa highlighted that connecting youth with local resources and encouraging self-employment is key to the country’s prosperity. He noted that many youths who once sought foreign employment are now being motivated to start their own businesses and live with their families in their home villages.
