Temple waste becomes a catalyst for entrepreneurial activity

Becharaji or Bahucharaji (Gujarati: બેચરાજી કે બહુચરાજી) is a small town and taluka place in Mehsana district.  It is situated in northern part of Gujarat. It is a very popular religious place of Hindu religion. The livelihood of this area is depend upon contract labor and small scale business because Becharaji taluka has less fertile soil and the soil is saline and semi-black. So agriculture and animal husbandry is not chief livelihood activity for Becharaji like other blocks of Mehsana District.

649 Self Help Groups have been formed in Becharaji Block. They are with credit linkage of 421.77 lakhs. The SHG women initiated to use their sanctioned credit in Repaying Debt, School/College Education fees, Social events and small scale scattered business. But there was not any group activity started in Becharaji for livelihood creation.

The Temple of Bahucharaji Mata is located in mid Becharaji town. Thousands of followers are visiting the temple daily. They are worshiping Bahucharaji Mata with offering Coconut, flowers, flags, saries etc., which converts into waste after worship and temple trust was having serious concern of its daily disposal. Temple authority and District authority including District Development Officer, Director DRDA, Prant Officer, Mission Mangalam staff, Training provider organization sat together and designed sustainable livelihood activity for SHG women and proper dispose of temple waste.

2 Months ago, 80 women oriented to initiate small scale entrepreneurial business and they have been committed to provide all kind of assistance from MISSION MANGALAM machineries to take a stand. The following actions have been taken to create SHG Entrepreneurial Unit “Best from Waste”:

·        2 or 3 orientation meetings conducted with 80 SHG women.

·   One Exposure visit conducted of Nandanvan Trainer Organization to check the project potential and implementation strategy.

·         70 SHG women have been groomed with 10 days training facilitated by RSETI.

·    NANDANVAN Organization has been appointed to provide training and further initial market linkage.

·        The SHG women learnt wide range of articles such as Ganeshji’s statue, Zumar, wall pieces, etc from coconut coir and coconut.

·        The women initiated to make statue of Ganeshji in different sizes from 3 inches to 10 feet. 50 women enthusiastically engaged in this activity.

·        Master Trainer Group of 15 women have been developed for sustainable future and growth of the project.

·        We premise to uniform these SHG women in Federation.

·       Under joint efforts of SGSY Gram Haat fund and Becharaji Temple Trust, 2 shops in “Bala Bechar Complex” have been allocated to SHGs as marketing unit.    

·        This SHG unit started to get big orders of Ganeshji’s statues not only locally but also from the other districts.

SHG women started to earn healthy (minimum Rs. 100/- to Rs. 150/- per day initially and more depend upon their capacity) at their doorsteps.