Women Nurture their Strengths to Emerge as Successful Entrepreneurs
...HCL SATTVA Project
HCL SATTVA Project is unique in the way it focuses on building the inner strengths of community institutions such as SHGs, Clusters / Blocks / District level Federations through a well-designed program that suits the needs of community women.
In Bengaluru, under Women Skill Development Programme (WSDP) 16, Skill training on Jute Products as well as Entrepreneurship training was successfully completed during 4th to 30th Oct at Madapat006Ea in Haragadde Panchayat. Under WSDP 17, 22 trainees were provided training on Mushroom cultivation and processing. HCL Foundation organized a workshop on Child Protection Policy and another online session on Financial Literacy on 25th and 30th Oct, 2021 respectively. The online session was handled by Ms Prema Rajappa, Associate Analyst, HCL Foundation. These sessions were aimed at empowering women participants with knowledge on the subject. Trained women have also been continuously handheld for establishing linkages and expanding market for their products.
In Madurai, in the year 2020-21, 30 WSDP women entrepreneurs were trained as a part of 555 Women Power Tamil Nadu event. Women entrepreneurs trained under WSDP 11 received prestigious Asia Book of Records Award. They also participated in two exhibitions during this period – Yaadhum Healthy Food Market cum Exhibition under the theme ‘Diwali Sweets and Savouries’ and the second one organized by HCL Foundation partner NGO AIF. The expanse of the exhibition were Handmade Masala Products, Ready to Cook Millet Products and Ready to Eat Millet Products. Also, it is heartening to mention that in December, 2 Common Facility Centres and 1 Mission Office cum Common Facility Centre were inaugurated.
In Hyderabad, training on jute products commenced on 14th December, 2021 for empowering women to establish micro enterprises in this area. Enterprises in the areas of making jute bags, handmade jewellery, etc were nurtured. Their enterprises were studied, strengths and weaknesses were worked upon and markets expanded. A special photo session was organized for capturing product photos produced by entrepreneurs and they were explained how images could be projected to appeal to customers and make a headway. The Sattva team has facilitated women entrepreneurs to markets their products both online and offline. In a landmark achievement, 500 pieces of Hyderabad jewellery were sold in a record period of two months, thus establishing the efficacy of credible marketing tools.
Determination has No Two Names
Jute products are common and face stiff competition unless their manufacturing and marketing are planned carefully. The story of Mangala Gowri, a 44-year-old entrepreneur from Madapatna, an urban poor area of Jigani, Bangalore, however is an inspiration. It was during the pandemic when the family faced severe financial crunch that Mangala set out to do something to support her family. She says, “Given some background in the area, I decided to sharpen the skills of making eco-friendly jute products and in turn, influence & train more people from my village on these skills. I prefer to train unemployed women in my village & support them in income generating activity.”
The HCL-EDII SATTVA Team supported Mangala Gowri to establish her enterprise, where all potential women entrepreneurs could come together and manufacture jute products. Today, these women are operating two electric sewing machines supported by the local well-wishers. Mangala is using her craft skills to make a variety of jute and cloth products & is also training many women from her neighborhood. They are self-reliant, independent and happy.
“All we need is a chance to shine, and taking others forward in this process adds to our glory. I also profusely thank HCL-EDII SATTVA Team for showing me the light at the end of the tunnel,” signs off Mangala Gowri
