Kerala woman wins national award after rebuilding life through spice business
Bindulekha S turned a Rs 50,000 loan into a successful food venture following the collapse of her garment unit.
Bindulekha S, a resident of Aryanadu in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district, won second prize in the Best Natural Food Stall category at the 2026 National Saras Mela in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. According to the Times of India, the award was presented by NTR district collector Dr G Lakshmisha for the quality and variety of her products.
The entrepreneur started Shri Krishna Pickles and Food Products after her previous garment business collapsed during the Covid-19 pandemic. This failure left her with unpaid loans and financial pressure. To recover, she took a Rs 50,000 loan through Kudumbashree, a women-led community network, to begin making pickles from her home.
Her business grew from selling North Indian-style mango pickle to a wider range of items. Her current catalogue includes various pickles, tea masala, sambar masala, chutney powder, ginger powder, and sprouted ragi. She also operates a small roadside eatery outside her house.
Bindulekha now runs the venture with three other women. She received training in food processing and marketing from several organisations, including the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode and ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
The business expanded after her products gained popularity at exhibitions such as the Aajeevika Melas in Rajasthan. Bindulekha now focuses on providing financial independence for other women through her enterprise.