The Potential of Village Entrepreneurship
...Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)
The glaring income gap between the haves and the have-nots is beginning to find an answer in entrepreneurship. Most of the underprivileged residing, particularly in villages, are unable to spot growth opportunities and continue to dwell in poverty and dismal conditions. The Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme [SVEP] is the largest village entrepreneurship programme that targets fostering economic growth through sustainable livelihood opportunities. SVEP has been envisioned by the Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India.
The project covering 80 blocks in 15 States is helping members of Self Help Groups (SHG) set up small enterprises in rural areas under non-farm sector. SVEP is the sub-scheme under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). EDII has been functioning as the National Resource Organisation (NRO) for this programme and is significantly enabling economic growth through sustainable livelihood options.
As a result of various trainings, mentoring support and opportunity sourcing, 65832 enterprises have been established, training has been imparted to 67576 entrepreneurs as well as 1232 community resource persons. Through a dedicated fund known as the Community Enterprise Fund (CEF) accessible under this project, these enterprises have been provided a total of 177.32 crores in credit to help them start and grow their businesses.
41336 women owned entrepreneurs under this project, is an achievement of sorts.
Highlighting about the importance of programme in SVEP, Faculty, EDII and Project In charge, Dr. Rajesh Gupta said, “SVEP aims to build strong and efficient institutional frameworks in rural areas, allowing for increased daily revenue through sustainable job creation and improved access to existing financial and human resources. It allows youth from rural area by teaching them how to choose the best business to start and how to run it and gives wings to their dream.”
Shri Raghavendra Pratap Singh, Hon’ble Director (RL), Ministry of Rural Department (MoRD), Govt. of India, visited Pipraich Block Resource Centre (BRC) in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, on October 29, 2021. During his talk with BRC members, he emphasised on the importance of developing value-added products and devising marketing strategy for them. Shri Singh appreciated the progress under SVEP. He interacted with the beneficiaries and advised them on some significant ways that could be employed to scale up. For instance, his advice to Ms. Saroj Devi, an SVEP promoted potter to seek creative design support from a design agency was well taken and efforts are being put in place to ensure the same.
- Training conducted for CRP-EPs of Gujarat. The training for 33 Community Resource Person Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EPs) was conducted at EDII, Ahmedabad from 1st to 11th October The participants were from the Khambha, Ghoghamba, and Garbada blocks of Gujarat, and they were trained in SVEP Software, Marketing, Business Management, and Monitoring skills.
Hon’ble Director (RL), MoRD, GoI, Shri. Raghavendra Pratap Singh during his visit to Pipraich Block Resource Centre
Achievement – Motivation Training of CRP – EPs at EDII
Social Category wise Entrepreneurs
Gender wise Entrepreneurs
Unsteady Circumstances Strengthen her Resolve...
Her mother assisted her husband in his farming endeavours. Somvati studied upto the eighth grade and got married very early. After her marriage, she moved to Devipura village, in Uttarakhand and joined her husband who worked as an agricultural labourer.
Somvati came to know about State Rural Livelihood Mission’s, Self Help Group Programme, and became a member of a local self-help group in her village for poverty eradication. After joining the SHG in 2017, she went through a variety of training programmes. During one of the interactions, when community members in her area were given an orientation regarding Block Resource Center and Startup Village Entrepreneurship Program activities, she learned about SVEP and began to dream about starting her own business. Somvati had always been impressed by the idea of setting up a Fast Food outlet and hence moved ahead with developing a business plan on this business idea. She got it approved the BRC Community Resource Person and procured approval to set up her outlet with a loan of Rs. 50,000.
CRP-EP handheld Somwati in setting up her Mini Hotel and Snacks Point in Block Headquarters. Her outlet is growing every day with increasing demand. Given the good response, Somvati now wishes to expand her range of food items to cater to a larger audience. She employs Google, YouTube, and other social media platforms for publicity, as has been taught in the Entrepreneurship Development Programmes.
Currently, she is earning a profit of around Rs.12,000 to 15,000 per month and the estimated annual turnover of her venture is approximately Rs. 2,50,000. Somvati is thankful to EDII’s SVEP for providing all necessary assistance to her in her entrepreneurial journey.
Somvati thanks SVEP for giving her a business perspective and ensuring that she came around with her plan. She particularly mentions how as an entrepreneur, today she possesses knowledge on promotion, finance and daily management. Somvati smiles big and with her most confident look signs off saying, “My best is yet to come.”
