Reddy Satya Rao hails from Marupalli village in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. His parents worked hard as agricultural labourers and saved their income to ensure he completed his schooling. Unfortunately he was unable to further his education after Std. X due to the family's financial situation. Satya then began looking for a job but his lack of educational qualifications proved a barrier.

At that point of time, his friends told him about courses offered free of cost by Nagavali Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship Development (NIRED) established by GMRVF at Rajam, in collaboration with Andhra Bank. He approached NIRED and enrolled for the 'Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC)' course.

At NIRED, Satya underwent intensive practical oriented training along with motivational classes. He was also introduced to the benefits of meditation and practising yoga. He attributes the yoga sessions for helping him release stress and breathing mindfully.

Soon after completing the course, Satya established a small RAC service centre in Vishakapatnam with the financial help of his close friends. The first few months were hard, as he was building his customer base. In due course however, he was able to gain a good foothold in the business by delivering quality service.

He now earns Rs. 30,000 per month and is able to finance the education of his 2 younger brothers. Satya says, "NIRED has completely changed my life. Apart from helping me find a career path, it has helped me incorporate yoga and meditation into my daily living."