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Sustainable Livelihoods for Women Entrepreneurs based on Handmade Paper Technology and Handcrafted Paper Products Establishment of a Technology Resource Centre in Niwari Block of Tikamgarh District (Madhya Pradesh) Sustainable Livelihoods for Women Entrepreneurs based
on Handmade Paper Technology and Handcrafted Paper Products Development Alternatives with its vision of creating sustainable livelihoods through clean production processes has successfully devised business packages for technologies amenable to small scale production in rural and peri-urban areas. One such technology is handmade paper and paper products. The handmade paper unit, representing a micro enterprise based on frontline technology designed by Development Alternatives employs more than 60 people, mostly women who earlier had no source of income. Its raw materials include cotton rags (by product of garment manufacturing industry), used paper and waste biomass materials. The design of the technology makes it possible to produce highly customized paper in terms of color, texture and fragrance. This sets the market value of handmade paper much above that of produced by large paper mills. Further value addition is made possible through manufacture of paper products, a unit, which is scaleable to the desired level of production. Thus the above combination of handmade paper and paper products unit favors ideally in terms of livelihood creation and preservation of environment. One such initiative taken up, jointly, by the Government of Madhya Pradesh (through Rajiv Gandhi Gramudyog Mission) and Development Alternatives was under the TREAD (Trade Related Entrepreneurs Assistance for Development) program. Under the program two major projects were designed and successfully implemented within a framework of one and a half years whereby groups of women were identified, trained and registered as independent legal entities. The first project involved identifying a group of tribal women from below poverty line households, in Tikamgarh District of Madhya Pradesh, who were to be imparted training in manufacture of handmade paper products. Previously these women were earning their livelihoods through marginal labor on agricultural land and construction sites and, their average earnings per annum were less than Rs.3500 ($ 87.50). Technical training to the group was provided on manufacture of handmade paper products identified through a comprehensive market survey, thereby, ensuring a ready market for the finished products. The women were also trained on organizational, financial and marketing aspects of managing an independent enterprise. Simultaneously they were encouraged to adopt a regular savings habit. The convergence of the above factors led to the formation and registration of a co-operative society which would be responsible for self managing day to day issues of production and financial management. Other assistance provided by Development Alternatives included provision of medical facilities and creche for children of women. Literacy classes were also provided to help women manage the co-operative more efficiently. Today the average income of a woman is Rs.12,000 ($300), more than thrice the income from alternative sources of livelihood. Currently, a total of 23 women have been registered with the co-operative. The second project involved setting up of a handmade paper unit in Khargone District of Madhya Pradesh in association with a local NGO, Ashagram, which is involved in manufacturing and supply of artificial limbs to the poor. A total of 60 people were chosen, mostly women from around the region. Development Alternatives undertook the tasks of civil construction, training of manpower and commissioning of the unit. In the initial phase of commercial production, Development Alternatives also agreed to provide market assistance to the unit to help it achieve financial viability. Today the unit has been registered as an independent society providing a consistent source of livelihood and producing good quality handmade paper. Establishment of a Technology Resource Centre in Niwari Block of Tikamgarh District (Madhya Pradesh) This is a UNDP sponsored project wherein Development Alternatives is entrusted with the task of setting up of a Technology Resource Centre (TRC). It is envisaged that TRC will act as an information hub for providing up to date information on various parameters (social, economic, health, technological) of the block to State Government or any agency interested in development of the block. The first phase involves a population survey of the households in the block (approximately 20,000 households) on the parameters mentioned above. The data will be stored in a database in coded form and made available online for the purpose of research and action. The project aims to create a network of local resource persons, one from each village, who will provide periodic information to the TRC. This will assist the State Government in taking immediate action case of urgencies like disease outbreak etc. and also keeping itself informed on general development of the block. This phase will also involve identification of appropriate technologies for the region through need assessment, market analysis and survey of existing human resources. The second phase of the program aims to introduce at least two technologies identified in phase one for promoting sustainable livelihoods. A complete technology package will be delivered which will include the financial assistance component. The total project period is of two years. |
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