From Resource Centre To A Business Hub

Women Livelihood
By Gurukalyan Nayak & Savvy Soumya Misra
27 Feb, 2023

What started as a Resource Centre for information dissemination in Manikera village in Kalahandi has now become a business hub!

30 women in 3 Resource Centres were provided with tent house kits and in the last month and a half they made a profit of Rs 13,500. One such resource centre at Manikera is being run by the 12-member Maa Tarini Women’s group. Snehalata Taria, Bharati Sharma, Dhira Bhoi, Gita Majhi, Sunafula Ghivela, and Gunjan Bag are some of the members.

The Resource Centre was started two years ago to hold trainings of women on farming, livelihood, hygiene and health by officials from different departments. Since it began, 80 women have received such trainings. These Centres were started as part of the Oxfam India-HDFC Bank Project Utthan in Kalahandi.

The villages, even in the radius of 12-15 km, were dependent on tent houses that were very expensive and they charged a lot for transportation charges. The women identified this gap and built a business model that would provide the tent house kits at an affordable rate to other women groups as well as to other members of the community. They are building their network to grow their business. Apart from Manikera they have catered to functions in Tentuliguda, Pajikeri, Tapreng, Sulesouru, and Araskuppa village.

To start the tent house business, the women were provided with utensils, grinders, water filters, crates, buckets, mats among other things. The shamiana or the actual tent house will be bought once the group starts making profits. The group has decided that 60% of their earnings will be invested in the business while 40% will be deposited in the bank account of the group as emergency funds for the members which they can withdraw as loan (with low interests) for education and health requirements.

The group has also taken responsibility for the upkeep of the resource centre. The women are thrilled with their business and are able to build a very good rapport with the community. The villagers too are helping the group get orders and expand the business. Once upon a time these women were shy even to step out of their homes and today they are running a business, earning a livelihood and planning for the future of both the enterprise as well as their families.

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