What began with just ₹500 in a home kitchen has today grown into one of Assam’s biggest food businesses. DBD Enterprise, a name associated with trust, quality, and traditional flavor, encompasses a story that proves great success does not always come from big investments, but from strong determination. This is the story of Dalimi Deka, who dared to dream big in spite of limited resources and turned those dreams into reality.
From four walls of a home to the marketplace
It all began in a small kitchen in her house in Kalipada area of Guwahati. Dalimi Deka gave new direction to her dreams. She recalls, “I started with ₹500. When someone bought goods worth ₹100, I earned a small profit from it. Sometimes, I supplied to shops, sometimes people tasted and bought my products. At that time, I did not think much about money, I was just focussed on how to move the work forward.”
In the beginning, there were no machines and no staff. Every morning began with the aroma of spices. Cutting fruits and vegetables by hand, mixing the spices, drying them in the sun, and then carefully packaging everything- she did it all alone. Gradually, her pickles and products began to win over people. From neighbors to local shops, her flavors started spreading. Every small order was not just income for her, but a new door of hope.
Confidence gained in Coimbatore
Dalimi’s husband, Gokul Chandra Deka, served in the Air Force. When he was posted in Coimbatore, Dalimi decided to participate in a food festival which was a turning point in her life. She displayed her handmade products there. She was nervous whether people would like her products. But when the results were announced and she won the first prize, there were tears of joy in her eyes.
That moment was not just about winning a trophy, but about winning confidence in herself. She realized that her skill needed to move beyond the kitchen at home. It had the strength to create recognition on a larger stage.
A new direction through learning
After retirement in 2012, the family returned to Guwahati. Here, Dalimi took food processing training from the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE). This training gave direction to her hidden talent. She learned how to maintain product quality, improve packaging, and reach customers through marketing. The results were surprising. In just one week, her pickle sales increased from ₹100 to ₹5,000, giving her confidence a new high. She understood that people liked her products, and this work could grow further.
Earnings became capital, hard work became strength
Dalimi never waited for big investments. Whatever she earned, she reinvested into her work. When sales reached ₹5,000, she bought a small machine. As work increased, she hired one employee. She says, “With whatever money came in, I bought machines. Then I hired another employee. Within about a year, I realized that this work could grow further.” Gradually, that small kitchen turned into a structured food processing unit. Where Dalimi once worked alone, today many women work together. For them, this is not just a job but a source of dignity.
Training more than 700 women
Dalimi did not limit her dreams to herself. She has trained more than 700 women in food processing, packaging, and marketing. Under government skill development programs, she travels to different districts to provide training to other women. She believes, “If one woman becomes self-reliant, the entire family becomes stronger.” When a woman starts her own small business after training and says with a smile- “Now I earn myself”- that is the biggest reward for Dalimi.
Quality as the strongest identity
All products of DBD Enterprise- pickles, jams, jellies, sauces- are made from locally sourced raw materials. While maintaining traditional Assamese taste, complete care is taken to ensure cleanliness and hygiene. Dalimi says, “Maintaining quality is essential. We have to provide proof for everything. We have water certification, even employee medical certificates. Every record has to be maintained.” Customer trust is her greatest capital. She knows that once trust is broken, it is difficult to regain it. That is why every packet carries not just taste, but honesty as well.
A journey of flavor driven by research
Dalimi does not limit herself to production, she also focuses on research. She continuously works on how long a product can be safely preserved and what methods can extend its shelf life. She experiments with salt and other natural preservation methods to check how long quality can be maintained. Her king chili pickle, bamboo shoot, and Assamese lemon pickle are bestsellers. These products carry not just the taste of spices, but also the fragrance of Assam’s soil along with the warmth of its tradition.
Recognition through exhibitions
In the early days, Dalimi participated in government exhibitions across the country. She gained new customers, new experiences, and opportunities to improve her work. During the Covid period, when people stayed at home, the demand for local and trusted products increased. During this time, DBD Enterprise built a strong identity in Assam’s market. Her family fully supported her 15-year journey. Her husband, an ex-serviceman, says, “We had an army network. From there, we started supplying small quantities. First 10–20 products, then 30. Gradually, demand increased.
When work grew, I left my job and started working full time with her.” Their son also joined the business. During lockdown, he spent six months understanding production and the entire process. Today, he manages finance and accounts, sales tracking, banking work, payment collection, and coordination. Now the family is working together to grow DBD Enterprise and preparing to bring their products to online platforms like Amazon, so that the taste of Assam reaches every corner of the country and the world.
Not just one woman’s story, but the hope of many
Today, DBD Enterprise products are being supplied in local markets. Customer trust is its greatest strength. Dalimi Deka’s story proves that self-reliance does not depend on large investments. What is needed is hard work, patience, and the right direction.
The journey that began with ₹500 has now gained national recognition. This represents not just the success of a brand, but the victory of a mindset that believes even a small beginning can create big change. DBD Enterprise today stands as a true example of self-reliant India where a taste born in a kitchen is reaching hundreds of homes while providing hope, dignity, and livelihood to hundreds of women.
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