Entrepreneurship Development Program support rural women in becoming successful business women
Over the past 15 years, SSP has developed a well-established Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) that trains women in topics like entrepreneurship, marketing and business management, to support them in becoming successful businesswomen.
Parveen Dange’s experience in Wagholi village, Osmanabad illustrates the same. Parveen tai’s seven-member family depended entirely on her husband’s income from daily wage labour and suffered from financial difficulties. After joining an SHG and participating in the EDP training, she started a stationery shop. Initially, she took a small loan from the SHG to purchase goods and sold these from her house.
Over time, she has invested the profits into the business, and now runs a small shop opposite her house. Parveen tai says that she has become empowered after starting this business. She visits the wholesale market to buy goods and takes most decisions related to her shop. She is also more mobile, and supports her husband in meeting household expenses.
The EDP includes a six-month long theoretical (in-hall) and practical (on-site) training, followed by mentoring, handholding and linking with financial institutions. Through the EDP program, women map local business opportunities, and are urged to start multiple small businesses to ensure a steady income. Their families are counselled by senior leaders to ensure that women receive maximum support. For more established entrepreneurs, refresher trainings on growing businesses are also provided.
The Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) has been successfully implemented across Maharashtra, Bihar, Kerala and Orissa, with women starting businesses like flour mills, spices, noodle making, clothing, groceries etc. Partnering with the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission, SSP has facilitated over 4300 women entrepreneurs in Solapur district. Women entrepreneurs have been able to reach out to banks for loans and training on financial management. The monthly income of women has increased from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 10,000 on average.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
08th February, 2022