Workshops of NGOs on RED Strategy: These are organized to sensitise Chief Executives of NGOs on their role in Rural Entrepreneurship Development (RED)

Capacity Building of NGOs: The Institute organises Training of Trainers’ Programmes to train extension workers of NGOs to help rural youth in launching their micro enterprises.

Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programmes: EDII has implemented close to 500 REDPs, thus imparting training in various trades and skills as well as entrepreneurship.

NGO-Bankers Interface: In order to sensitise bankers towards the needs of REDP trainees and help NGOs establish linkages with banks, the Institute organizes NGO-Bankers’ Interface for bankers and CEOs of NGOs. The interface has proved to be an effective way to facilitate credit delivery to rural poor through organized sector.

Best Entrepreneur Trainer Motivator (ETM) Award for North East Region (NER): EDII, with the support of SIDBI, instituted the BEST ETM Award for North East Region given the enormous efforts that trainers put in, especially in difficult terrains like the NER toward developing entrepreneurship.

Rural Industrialization Programme (RIP): As a part of this project, skill enhancement/orientation programmes were organized in 3 states wherein master craftsmen from Moradabad (U. P.) were invited for live demonstration and providing training to local artisans operating in clusters for brassware production. The Handicraft Exporters’ Meet organised in Moradabad and attended by 36 exporters linked local artisans with exporters of brassware.

SIDBI also sponsored 5-year RIP Projects in Hazaribaug, Rae Bareli, Odisha.

Chief Executives’ Workshop on Informal Credit Delivery System (IMCDS): In order to find a long term solution to the perennial problem of credit to the rural poor, the Institute with SIDBI’s support, initiated CEOs’ Workshop on Informal Credit Delivery in the year 1994-95. 7 such regional workshops have been organized, thus enabling 182 CEOs of NGOs from across the country to deliberate on alternatives to formal credit system.

Training on IMCDS for Development Professionals: To consolidate its efforts on this front, the Institute took up capacity building programmes on IMCDS including Self Help Groups (SHGs) by training grassroot functionaries of NGOs.

Special Programme on Financial Management & Accounting System for NGOs: With a view to strengthening NGO personnel manage finance and accounts, 23 NGO functionaries from 8 states handling accounts and finance in their respective NGOs were trained in this specially designed training programme.

Fellowship Support to Post Graduate Diploma in Business Entrepreneurship & Management (PGDBEM): SIDBI’s support to the Institute’s pioneering 1-year education programme on Business Entrepreneurship and Management came in a big way with continuous fellowship support to its NGO Management Stream students. Given the excellent scope that this stream offers to students in setting up their own NGOs and also in improving the management practices of the existing ones, SIDBI has contributed 10 fellowships over a period of two years.

• Performance & Growth of Existing Enterprises

Entrepreneur Assessment Through Focussed Behavioural Event Interview (FBEI) Technique: SIDBI supported Skill Development Programmes for officers of financial institutions to know more on the conceptual aspect of the interview technique which was the outcome of the USAID-funded research study on entrepreneurial competencies, covering 3 countries viz., Ecuador, Malawi and India. In all, 59 officers were trained on the interview technique.

Small Industry Management Assistance Programme (SIMAP): With the twin objective of providing employment opportunities to non-technical graduates and also strengthening the hands of SSI entrepreneurs in their day-to-day management, the concept of developing ‘well rounded’ managerial assistants for small scale industries drew SIDBI’s support. Through SIMAPs organized in various parts of the country, non-technical graduates were trained of which, 76% were placed in jobs in SSIs.

Growth-cum-Business Counsellors Programmes for Existing Entrepreneurs and Its Institutionalisation at State level: Committed  to facilitating growth among established enterprises in the small-scale sector, the Institute adopted the training-cum-counselling model of ‘Growth Programme’ developed by Durham University Business School (DUBS), U. K., with the objective of creating strategic awareness among entrepreneurs. The highlight of such growth programmes was its in-built counselling support provided by trained business counsellors.

Region/Product-Specific Export workshops: A series of Region/Product-specific short Duration Export workshops for the benefit of existing entrepreneurs were organized with SIDBI’s support. Through 5 such workshops focussing on ‘Doing Business with CIS Countries’, ‘Doing Business with South Africa’, ‘Doing Business with Australia’, and ‘Software Exports’, a total of 128 entrepreneurs gained insights into export promotion of their products.

• Implementing Business Development Services (BDS)

In Dyes & Chemicals Cluster, Ahmedabad

‘Implementing Business Development Services in Dyes & Chemicals Cluster at Ahmedabad’ addressed 1200 dyes and chemicals units and their 40000 workers. Some of the major interventions were in the areas of compliance with pollution control norms, cleaner production methods, creation of a special Purpose Vehicle and creation of a cadre of business development service providers in the area.

In Leather and Leather Products Cluster, Chennai

This project aimed at revitalizing the Chennai leather and leather products cluster through planned interventions over a period of 32 months.  Based on the revelations of the diagnostic study, the project as a first step introduced multi-pronged measures to control input and manufacturing cost.  Energy efficiency methods, lean manufacturing practices, cleaner production technology in tanneries were some of the significant initiatives introduced.

• Cluster Development

The Institute extended hand-holding support to 12 select clusters in 12 states. These included:  

• Leather Goods Cluster, Shantiniketan
• Footwear Cluster, Agra
• Brass & Bell Metal, Khurda
• Readymade Garments, Indore
• Leather Footwear Cluster, Agra
• Gold Ornament Cluster, Thrissur
• Agricultural Implement Cluster, Karnal
• Agricultural Implement Cluster, Moga
• Steel Re-Rolling Mill Cluster, Raipur
• Bearings & Bearing Components Cluster, Jaipur
• Readymade Garments Cluster, Bangalore
• Food Processing Cluster, Muzzafurpur

SUPPORT TO SPECIALIZED PROGRAMMES

• Developing Marketing Entrepreneurs: As an experiment to develop new entrepreneurs who would set up marketing ventures for products of SSI units, a 10-day programme aimed at practising professionals was organized on campus for a group of 25 participants.
• International Marketing & Strategic Management: This SIDBI-supported 1 week programme was organised with a view to assist owners and senior executives of small and medium sized enterprises to prepare strategies for their respective companies to deal with problems posed and opportunities open up by the new economic policy. The programme could make the participants realise the importance of strategic management for small scale sector which has so far been considered useful for large corporate sector only. 15 participants received training in this area.
• Intrapreneurship: Since performance of enterprises depended upon the dynamism of executives and supervisors, the Institute’s core activity for developing entrepreneurship within the organization for better efficiency and growth was well received at SIDBI. Through three such programmes, a total of 61 executives/supervisors/managers were trained.
• Workshop on Use of Internet for Business Promotion: Realising the significant role that Internet would be playing in an era propelled by Information Technology, a 3-day workshop on ‘Business Promotion through Internet’ was organized with SIDBI’s support with an objective to create an awareness on internet sources and services; enhance knowledge and skills of participants in utilising the same; and equip them with technical and economic aspects of the industry. Through this workshop, a group of 22 resource persons.

Preparing, Revising, and Upgrading 300 Project Profiles:

EDII was roped in by SIDBI to prepare, revise, and upgrade 300 project profiles covering eight Industry sectors namely 1) Ceramics, Chemicals, Leather and Rubber 2) Engineering & Engineering Goods, Auto Component, Electrical, Electronic Product 3) Food and Agri Processing 4) IT & IT-related 5) Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare and Herbal 6) Plastics, Paper & Paper Products, Wooden Articles and Allied Service Sector 7) Textiles, Apparel and Allied 8) Tourism, Travels & Hospitality and Allied, Handicrafts, Gems and Jewellery, Bamboo Production, Traditional Crafts.

• All 300 profiles covering 18 parameters namely; Introduction, product & its application, desired qualifications for promoter, industry lookout and trends, market potential and marketing issues, raw material requirements, manufacturing process, manpower requirement, implementation schedule, cost of project, means of finance, working capital calculation, list of machinery required, profitability calculations, breakeven analysis, statutory/government approvals, backward and forward integrations, and training centres and courses, were prepared and submitted to SIDBI.
• The profiles were uploaded on SIDBI website to facilitate prospective entrepreneurs, bankers, financial institutions, MSME support organisations, and institutions involved in entrepreneurship training and mentoring.

Digital Financial Literacy Programme (DFLP)

SIDBI, under its Poorest States Inclusive Growth (PSIG) project, had entrusted EDII with the task of conducting programmes on Digital Financial Literacy (DFL), aimed at sensitising artisans, MSME entrepreneurs and traders, towards digital and electronic modes of financial transactions. One-day programmes were conducted to make artisans and stakeholders in the value chain adopt cashless mode of transaction in their business.

• More than 1800 artisans and MSME entrepreneurs were sensitized through 31 DFL programmes sanctioned by SIDBI on a pan-India basis. Of this, 13 were organized across Odisha, 10 in Assam, 5 in West Bengal, and 3 in Gujarat, covering different artisanal clusters.
• Entrepreneurs have been registered on the Stand-up India portal.

Cluster Development in Agartala and Rajkot

EDII had been engaged as a Cluster Intervention Team to implement cluster development project in the Bamboo Crafts Cluster at Agartala (Tripura) and Engineering Cluster at Rajkot (Gujarat). The 32-month project, titled MSME-Cluster Intervention Programme (M-CIP), was supported by SIDBI. It focused on encouraging the MSME cluster to develop into a Smart Cluster and emerge as a strong pillar of the Make in India initiative.

1. Rajkot Engineering Cluster, Gujarat

• Project Launch Workshop was organised and 60 participants from various stakeholders validated the findings.
• Workshop on ‘Simulation Software Benefits for Foundry Industries’ organised, whereby 65 participants from MSMEs, college students and Business Development Services Providers (BDSPs) were sensitised on Simulation Software utility.
• As part of training on Simulation Software, 10 participants were trained on 2D-3D modelling and Simulation Software for castings.
• 55 participants were sensitised about ‘5S and Value Stream Mapping-VSM’ (Lean Manufacturing Tools) implementation.
• Implementation in 6 pump manufacturing units was undertaken as per suggestions made under 5S & VSM (Lean Manufacturing Tools).
• ERP for pump manufacturers has been developed and its implementation in 10 units is in process.
• 25 in-company trainings on ‘Best Practices in Cupola Furnaces’ were conducted, as part of which 28 supervisors and 80 workers were trained in best practices to be adopted during melting process in cupola furnace. These industries have been given hand holding support for successful implementation of best practices.

        2. Agartala Bamboo Cluster, Tripura

• Project Launch Workshop was organised and 70 participants from various stakeholders validated the findings.
• Prepared a consolidated ’Design Directory’ of existing bamboo handicraft products of Tripura.
• Awareness campaign for registration under ‘Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum’ conducted in the cluster – 40 artisans were informed about its necessity.
• A comprehensive survey was conducted along with experts from TIE-Skill (Margdarshak) in the ‘Bamboo Basketry Craft’, for understanding Design Aesthetics and the scope for further development. 40 artisans from the cluster participated and displayed their skills.

Capsule programme on Business Plan Preparation and Project Appraisal:

20 persons were trained in Business Plan Preparation and Project Appraisal at the capsule programme organized at SIDBI MSME International Institute, Bhubaneswar. Participants included budding entrepreneurs, bankers, NGOs, corporates, and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).

Business Plan Preparation and Appraisal workshop:

21 participants attended a three-day Business Plan Preparation and Appraisal workshop conducted from January 10-12, 2018, at the SIDBI MSME International Training Institute (SITI) in Bhubaneswar. 

Art-based Entrepreneurship Workshop:

70 artisans including SVEP entrepreneurs representing different districts of West Bengal participated in the art-based entrepreneurship workshop ‘Swabalamban Kala Prativa Karyashala’, organised at the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata. Sponsored by SIDBI, the workshop showcased district-wise art forms and featured expert talk by designers, entrepreneurs, government officials, social media experts & officials from SIDBI.

Diagnostic Study of selected MSME Clusters supported by SIDBI:

The objective of this project is to conduct diagnostic study (financial and non-financial aspects) of 7 MSME Clusters, namely Kolkata (Leather), Gangtok (Tourism), Agartala (Bamboo), Jamnagar (Brass Components), Vatva (Dyes and Chemicals), Ankleshwar (Chemical), and Rajkot (Engineering) Clusters. The study conducts an on-site analysis of the business dynamics of each cluster with a view to doing its gap analysis, ascertain the existing level of hard and soft interventions, and then develop an action plan to enhance the cluster competitiveness. 

• Diagnostic Study Reports were prepared by assessing the financial & non-financial gaps for selected MSME clusters.

Stand Up India (SUI) Clinic, Sponsored by SIDBI

 SIDBI-sponsored Stand Up India (SUI) Clinic aimed at providing handholding support to aspiring entrepreneurs who had registered on the Stand-Up India portal (https://www.standupmitra.in) or had filled up their applications but were unable to submit for various reasons. The one-day programme also provided support to those whose applications had been rejected.

One-to-one interaction with officials from SIDBI and NABARD and EDII experts was organized to facilitate applicants to firm up their projects and submit their applications. Applicants whose cases had been rejected were also provided support to rework on their proposal and resubmit the same for consideration. 

1. 145 entrepreneurs were contacted and counselled.
2. 19 entrepreneurs attended.
3. 12 representatives from different banks also attended the SUI clinic.
4. Issues related to Credit Guarantee/collateral, Margin Money Support, DPR preparation, Technical & Financial training, and Registration for Taxation were also addressed.
5. The calculation of working capital and other mandatory requirements for getting loan under Stand-Up India programme were also discussed.

Stand Up India (SUI) Clinic:

30 participants were provided handholding support at the Stand Up India (SUI) Clinic, sponsored by SIDBI. The one-day event was conducted in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Art-based Entrepreneurship Workshop

398 artisans participated in the art-based entrepreneurship workshop ‘Swabalamban Kala Prativa Karyashala’, organised in the cities of Varanasi, Mumbai & Chennai. Sponsored by SIDBI, the workshop focused on exploring ways and means of developing art-based entrepreneurs and imparted training on entrepreneurship to the artisans.

Livelihood Outreach Project in UP

The Livelihood Outreach Programme that is being implemented in Uttar Pradesh is aimed at empowering communities in 10 districts of eastern UP through financial and digital literacy training to 3000 individuals and by imparting, training, handholding and mentoring to 1500 artisans/micro entrepreneurs/ livelihood entrepreneurs for onboarding the e-marketplace. The implementations are supported by SIDBI. Under the period in review, a total of 35 programmes were conducted for Artisans in Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar, Mau and Azamgarh sensitizing 1750 artisans.

SIDBI Cluster Development Fund (SCDF) scheme

EDII, under the SIDBI Cluster Development Fund (SCDF) Scheme has been appointed as the Project Management Consultant at PAN India Level. The 2-year project aims at developing industrial and social infrastructure for development of MSMEs in various clusters and industrial parks. Structured implementation of the project has been initiated in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. 

Under the scheme, SIDBI has also chosen few artisan clusters where soft interventions are being planned. The objective is to promote age-old crafts and make these clusters sustainable.  The interventions have been initiated in Himroo shawl cluster in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Based on the revelations of the diagnostic study, soft interventions are being planned in the cluster to support weavers through sensitization and knowledge upgradation on craft management and sustainability.