On date 06-05-2025 did home visit:  
 Purpose: Follow-up to assess how Neelam is managing her parlour business after receiving support under Project Saakar.   
 Brief Background: Neelam, one of our beneficiaries, received support from Project Saakar to run her parlour business. This was our second visit to check on her progress. During the conversation, it was revealed that while things are going okay, but not going great. Due to financial challenges, she has been unable to open her own shop. She currently works at a nearby parlour on an as-needed basis. The parlour owner appreciates her work and calls her when there are many customers. She receives full payment for her services but cannot work there permanently as the parlour already has enough staff. On average, she serves 1-2 customers a day and around 10 customers a week.   
 Neelam shared that most of her clients are from her personal contacts who call her for services. She mentioned that the parlour business is slow during the summer due to the lack of festivals and weddings, which impacts her income. Even if she were to open her own parlour, she wouldn’t be able to afford the rent. She mentioned that her parlour supplies are running low, and she currently does not have the money to restock them. On some days, she earns around 300-600 rupees, which is insufficient to sustain herself and her family since she is the sole breadwinner. Regarding the body massage machine provided to her, she found it difficult to use and returned it to me. 
 Family Situation: Neelam currently lives with her two children, Aarav and Mayak, who are supported under our CVF program, along with her mother-in-law. They stay in a small rented room. She mentioned that she hasn’t been able to pay rent for the past two months and is actively looking for small jobs to sustain her family. Alongside working at the parlour, she is also working with Vestige company.   
 Conversation with Children: Although yesterday was my first meeting with the children, efforts were made to build a rapport with them. They were asked about their school and daily routine. Mayak, the younger child, showed his notebook where he had completed the work given by Neha (team member) during her last visit. He also recited the names of body parts. Both children are attending school regularly and performing well in their studies. What stood me out that Mayak carry school bags from the India Vision Foundation every day.   
 Neelam mentioned that currently, the children are not attending tuition classes due to financial constraints. Both Aarav and Mayak expressed their need for notebooks and water bottles for school. 
 Challenges Faced: 
 1.Stressful Family Situation: Neelam’s husband is not supportive and has been admitted to a rehabilitation center due to his drug and alcohol addiction. Although he works as a driver for Uber and Rapido, he contributes only 1,000-2,000 rupees per month to the family while spending the rest on his addictions. He shows no concern for the family’s well-being.   
 2.Lack of Resources: Neelam does not own a smartphone and uses a basic keypad phone, which prevents her from joining online meetings or enrolling in platforms like UrbanClap. To attend online meetings, she has to borrow a phone from her sister-in-law or neighbors, which poses significant challenges for her.   
 3.No Family Support: Neelam receives no support from her own family or her husband’s family. Her husband’s brother does not help them at all. Only her sister-in-law’s (husband sister) supports them occasionally by providing groceries. 
 Future Plans: Neelam shared that her mother-in-law is in the process of selling her property, and they plan to move to Najafgarh in October. Once they move, Neelam plans to open her own parlour while continuing to look for suitable job opportunities in the meantime to support her family financially.   
 Despite all the challenges she faces, Neelam remains a strong and determined individual who is willing to work hard for her family’s betterment. She mentioned that she dislikes staying idle at home and wants to keep working for the sake of her children. During my visit, she received calls for appointments and meetings, demonstrating her commitment to earning an income wherever possible. She also attended meeting with WICCI actively.