Project Mahek : Spreading Fragrance of Livelihood

With DDO Remya Mohan, Director DRDA Surat A.M. Khatri and Kamrej Taluka Staff

Our NGO "Shakti Foundation" is working for socio-economic upliftment of rural women. Since its establishment, we were looking for such activity through which rural women can earn a livelihood being at home. We are well aware of the fact that there are many activities for women such as Stitching, Papad and Achar making and many more. But our concern was to provide them sustainable livelihood after the training. We did research of such livelihood activities and found "Agarbatti Making" such activity which can provide them sustainable livelihood.

We came across to "Arsi Industry - Ahmedabad" who have done an MOU with Gov. of Gujarat to provide livelihood to women in agarbatti making. We did an agreement for South Gujarat region. As per this agreement, "Arsi Industry - Ahmedabad" will provide raw material and buy finished product (agarbatti) and women will be paid as per the work done. In turn, the beneficiaries will have to buy an agarbatti making pedal machine as the hand rolled agarbattis are no more in trend. We helped them in getting bank loan with government subsidy. We got their cases sponsored under SGSY and VAJPAYEE BANKABLE YOJANA of DIC. All APL and BPL beneficiaries were covered under the suitable schemes for them. BPLs got 50% subsidy, APLs got 25% subsidy and ST/SCs got 40% subsidy on the pedal machines.

Mission Mangalam Yojana: to empower rurual women

Beginning of the project:

We chose "Kamrej" taluka first and trained 60 women in 1st phase. First of all an awareness campaign was done to educate women about this activity and its benefits. This was one of the best activities for the women who were less or not educated, having no skills, were not allowed to do a job or having one or another problem may be at family or social level. Agarbatti making could earn them 150 to 200 rs per day for which they were suppose to dedicate 8 to 10 hours a day after their all household work. Out of 60, 24 women are successfully working with us inKamrej Taluka (Kholvad, Amboli and Kathor villages). They have been earning rs 3000 to 3500 per month since the April 2012.

Progress of the project:

After Kamrej, we entered in Chalthan (Palsana Taluka). Here also we trained around 40 women. Out of 40, today 22 women are working with us only in Chalthan. We have got a tremendous success here as all these women have started earning rs 4000 to 6000 per month within no time. They have also been working since month of May and are successfully supporting their families.

With Chalthan, we are now active in Karchelia & Algat (Mahuva taluka) with 16 women, Devgiri (Mandvi taluka) with 7 women and Selvas (Dadra Nagar Haveli) with 10 women.

So, total 80 women are working with us and earning well. It gives me immense pleasure to share the success of this project with District staff, Taluka staff, Bank officials etc. Without their support it would have never been possible.

Future Plans:

We have taken this project on campaign mode in Palsana Taluka. Here we have identified364 beneficiaries in 4 villages with the help of taluka administration. Skill training to these beneficiaries will be provided with the help of R-SETI in the month September. After the training the beneficiaries will be provided with livelihood in the month of October 2012. We intend to replicate Palasana model in entire Surat district in coming days.