Page 18 - EDII Report 113

REPORTS 113 REPORTS 113
EDII EDII

Startup Village

Programme (SVEP)

he women of Mahamaya SHG in Rampur for their first production and made soaps which
Village of Khurud, Chhattisgarh came were displayed during the Aajeevika Divas. They
Ttogether to start an enterprise 'Bihaan earned Rs. 12000 from the exhibition and
Herbal Soap Making Unit' with an aim of becoming appreciation & motivation from various District &
financially independent and to support their State Government Officials. By the end of the
families. These women had been earlier working as exhibition, they were able to get many orders under
farm labourers and due to seasonal employment, “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”. They also liaisoned
they were not able to lead quality life. with Kirana stores which are supported under the
SVEP scheme to sell their products.
They attended one of the SHG meetings conducted
under SVEP. After some meetings, it was suggested The women participated in several exhibitions and
to start a herbal soap manufacturing unit since it successfully supplied their products in various
Women Entrepreneurs of -Mahamaya SHG, showcasing Bihaan Herbal Soaps in Chhattisgarh
can be initiated at a small scale with limited use of government programmes. The results and
machines. This could also be undertaken by women appreciation motivated them and positively
without disturbing their household chores. impacted their lifestyle. They are now planning to
expand their product range and provide Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), the sub-scheme under Deendayal Antyodaya
In order to accomplish this, the CRP-EP prepared
customization options to their clients. Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has the objective of helping members of Self Help
the business plan and in the meanwhile, the SVEP
Groups (SHGs) and their family members to set up small enterprises in rural area under non-farm sector.
Team arranged a visit to Saffron Biotech
EDII has been functioning as the National Resource Organisation (NRO) for this programme and currently
Ahmedabad for the SHG members to get a 3 day
technical Training on soap making which was “The success of this implementing SVEP in 75 blocks across 15 States.
crucial for the success of the venture. enterprise has helped us
spread wings and become
Another major factor was market which was
the bread earners of the
established with the help of SRLM. It was decided
family. But all this would not
that these soaps would be manufactured under a
have been possible without
single brand “Bihaan” and the products would
both monetary and non-
cater to Govt. Hospitals, Schools, and Hostels and
monetary support received
to the communities of Kurud Block. In order to
under the programme”
diversify the product range, it was also decided that
along with Herbal soap, Glycerine Soap (purely
-Mahamaya SHG,
from coconut oil) could also be introduced.
Bihaan Herbal Soap
The business plan got approved by BRC and they Making Unit, Rampur,
got a funding of Rs. 80,000 under the project. With Kurud, Chhattisgarh
this, they placed an order of 500 Kg. raw materials

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