By Atul Lekhra | Manager- Online Donor Communication
Today I want to share with you a wonderful story about Shishvi village that just completed self-dependency project; a place forty kilometers away from Udaipur in Rajasthan. The earning source for them was agriculture, animal husbandry and natural resources and youth looked up to Udaipur for making a living. We at Sevamandir walked hand in hand with the village families and seen it evolve in 15 years. In December 2012 a project on ‘A step towards empowerment of girls and women of Shishvi village’ was started. The target group was 1500 people. In January 2014 about 70 women participated in training module to learn how to prepare good quality soaps and detergents as an income-generating activity and the entire technical and safety training was provided by Seva Mandir. Seva Mandir Self Help Groups (SHGs) were formed in the village and we through Women Economic Empowerment brought women together in saving and credit activities, eventually providing them with an opportunity to access external finances. In FY 2015-16, the annual production of detergent was 1200 Kgs yielding an annual turnover of Rs.60,000 ($900 approx.). Each woman involved with the activity, was paid Rs.1,500 ($23 approx.) out of the profits accrued after keeping 30% of the surplus in reserves and ploughing back the amount for the next business cycle. With projects like these, they could support a variety of productive activities and fulfill the immediate needs of their families and also start a small venture based on skill and thus being self dependant.
The entire process gave them a feeling of accomplishment and hopeful of at least earning some money and also in the process learning a new skill. The sample was sent for quality audits to SIMA Labs India and the happiness of villagers knew no bounds to hear that the detergent is of good texture and mild and thus will not harm clothesor hands and soil. Shishvi village is now being approached by nearby villages to learn the state of art so as to implement it in their village. The next challenge is to form a brand.It all happened because you made it happen and are an integral part of this beautiful journey. The entire group is now highly motivated. Since there is a high daily demand for detergent, it would also cover a good market.
Our capacity to create happiness is infinite. The challenges lie in bringing forth our greatest possible selves in the face of daily reality. This continual progression on self-renewal and transformation is the journey of Shishvi villagers. Thank you for your dedicated efforts to support. Please accept our deepest appreciation for all that you do. The program clearly aims to bring about social as well as economic self-reliance for both individuals and communities at the grassroots and ensure that the effects achieved through the program are long-term and sustainable.That is what we call empowerment through co-creation.
We would also like to wish you and your family a very HAPPY DIWALI.
Thank you
Regards
Atul Lekhra and Seva Mandir Team
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