Page 23 - EDII Report 123

EDII REPORTS 123

Shri Rakesh Jha, Manager Opera ons, SBI Founda on opining on this noble ini a ve
said, “This project is aimed at making the socio-economic environment congenial for
PwDs. Advancing and empowering PwDs is the mo o.”

Dr. Amit Kumar Dwivedi, Project Director, emphasizing on the importance of inclusivity
and empowerment for individuals with disabili es, said “Every individual, regardless of
their abili es, deserves the chance to shine. Inclusivity isn't just a virtue; it's the essence
of a compassionate society. Through this project, EDII is not only opening doors but is
also building bridges towards a brighter future.

TATA Communica ons Ltd supported Project Udaya

Project UDAYA has been making significant strides towards promo ng entrepreneurship among
women and Persons with Disabili es (PwDs). Currently, the project is making a difference in the
Raigad and Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra, where it has ignited the entrepreneurial spirit within
the affirma ve ac on community.

One of the primary ac vi es of Project UDAYA has been, Entrepreneurship Awareness Camps
(EACs). These camps aim to sensi ze individuals about entrepreneurship and offer them new
avenues for growth and self-reliance. To date, the project has conducted 66 EACs, thus reaching out
to 2961 women.

Taking a step further, the project has tailored its approach to meet the specific needs of women and
PwDs. Through Women Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (WEDPs), 762 poten al
women entrepreneurs, including 46 PwDs, have received specialized training. This comprehensive
programme covers a wide span of skills, including project selec on, resource consolida on, business
planning, management, market strategy, and government schemes for entrepreneurs.

Out of the trained par cipants, 327 women and PwDs have set up their enterprises. These
businesses are contribu ng not only to the economic upli ment of the entrepreneurs themselves
but also to their communi es.

One of the most noteworthy achievements of Project UDAYA is the improvement
in the average monthly income of trained entrepreneurs, which now stands at Rs.
12,300. This impressive feat demonstrates the poten al of entrepreneurship in
upli ing individuals and communi es, especially in regions like Raigad and
Ratnagiri, where agriculture is the primary occupa on.

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