Until just two years ago, the 200,000 residents of Majuli — a river island in India — had a hard time getting everyday items like schoolbooks, laptops, and shoes. It didn’t help that the island is connected to the mainland only by boat.
But all of that changed in 2016 when a graphic designer and publisher named Rupak Chandan discovered the Amazon Service Partner Program, which works with local logistics and transportation entrepreneurs to bring Amazon deliveries to India's less populated towns.
Chandan launched Monica Enterprises with just 400 square feet of space and two delivery associates. Today, his company delivers an average of 30 to 40 orders per day in Majuli alone and employs more than 40 people.
“Monsoons are the hardest," Chandan said. "Ferry service to Majuli is limited, and we quickly run out of time on our daily delivery schedules.” Nonetheless, he and his team do multiple ferry and boat rides everyday.
Chandan is proud of the way he's grown his business, generated employment, and transformed the lives of Majuli residents. “To the world, Majuli is the largest river island," he said. "But to me, it has been the Island of Opportunity.”
