Page 37 - EDII Report-137

Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India Reports 137 Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India Reports 137

Chhattisgarh Entrepreneurship Development
Scaling Tribal Entrepreneurship ...Project Aaranya Udyamita
Centre Bolsters Entrepreneurship in the State
Recognising the economic, social and ecological importance of Non-Timber Forest
Produce (NTFP), EDII, with the support of ICICI Foundation has launched Project Aaranya
Udyamita to promote the growth of tribal entrepreneurship across tribal belts of Gujarat, The Chhattisgarh Entrepreneurship Development Centre, supported by Department of
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, with training, capacity building and Commerce & Industries, Government of Chhattisgarh, continues to play a pivotal role in
handholding. nurturing entrepreneurial minds and promoting self-employment across the state. Through
a series of structured training programmes and awareness initiatives, the Centre is
EDII with the support of ICICI Foundation is implementing 'Aaranya Udyamita' across tribal- empowering people of the state with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to
dominated locations in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The establish and grow their enterprises.
initiative focuses on supporting tribal communities engaged in the collection and primary
processing of non-timber forest produce. The mandates of the project are being achieved During the last two months, four one-day Orientation Workshops on Entrepreneurship and
by creating awareness and supporting them in establishing organised enterprises. “The Self-Employment, along with 11 two-day Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs)
idea is to create a win-win situation for the tribal population engaged in the process by were conducted, across Chhattisgarh, benefiting more than 980 participants. These
ensuring organized enterprises for them and also for the consumers by making available programmes aimed to create awareness about entrepreneurship as a viable career option,
organic, chemical-free products to them,” informed Programme Director, Dr. Satya Ranjan promoting self-employment opportunities and imparting knowledge about various support
Acharya, Professor & Director - Department of Entrepreneurship Education, EDII. systems available for starting and growing small enterprises.In addition, 13 twelve-day
Micro Enterprise Development Programmes (MEDPs) were organized, training over 585
17 potential group enterprises, including SHGs, FPOs and other community institutions, participants. The programmes provided inputs to help individuals plan, establish and
were identified under this project across the implementation areas - four each from manage micro-enterprises in their respective sectors. Topics covered included;
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and five from Maharashtra. The project is entrepreneurial dynamics, business plan preparation, financial literacy, regulatory
facilitating the establishment of micro-processing units for non-timber forest produce. The compliances, market linkages and networking. To further concretize skill-based
Institute extended support to the identified groups by providing assistance in procuring entrepreneurship, nine 18-day Skill-Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (SEDPs)
tools and machinery, installing solar panels, providing fire safety equipment, providing were conducted, focused on sector-specific vocational training, enabling participants to
first-aid kits, and facilitating initial working capital amounting to approximately Rs. acquire employable skills or start small enterprises. The training methodology included
33,51,600. In last two months, along with the establishing micro-processing units, the entrepreneurship training, practical sessions & demonstrations, interactions with experts
institute conducted 17 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs) benefiting to 510 and exposure visits to provide real-world insights. 360 participants attended the
people from the tribes. Also, 34 Entrepreneurship Development Training Programmes programmes.
(EDTPs) were conducted focusing on imparting basic knowledge on business planning,
financial know-how, value addition techniques and market orientation. Aaranya Udyamita To enhance the effectiveness of entrepreneurship promotion and create cadre of trained
initiative aims to create sustainable livelihood avenues for tribal communities through mentors, two five-day capacity-building and refresher training programmes were also
enterprise orientation, capacity building, infrastructure support and market facilitation. organized for trainers, mentors and other stakeholders. 60 participants were imparted
conceptual understanding of entrepreneurship and enterprise development processes,
Participants presenting their business plan during Entrepreneurship Development facilitation skills, training techniques & methods and field-level engagement strategies so
Training Programme (EDTP) at EDII that they could in-turn conduct such programmes and mentor aspiring entrepreneurs on
their entrepreneurial path.

30 31