PEOPLE PROJECT

Globalisation raises many challenges to the rural production network which need to be addressed effectively by all development agencies concerned. Present production network faces challenges of quality & quarantine war, productivity and hygienic parameters.

Keeping in view of there factors, Thiruvanathapuram District Panchayat has formulated a micro enterprise development project under women component sub plan during 2006-2007.  Total out lay of the project is 395.862 lakh and contribution from district panchayat is 127.25 lakh.  A contribution of 203.50 lakh will be  provided as state sponsored fund from State Kudumbashree mission and Rs.29.70 lakh is the beneficiary contribution.  Other local bodies provided Rs 20 lakh and 34.9125 lakh is the credit support.  Salient features of the project are given below.

§         Major objectives includes establishment of a 23 food processing units in 23 grama panchayats.

§         Technology for the units is sourced from research institutions such as CFTRI, CTCRI and Kerala Agricultural University.

§         The various products include pickles, cereal powders, diabetic food, spice & curry powders, tapioca and banana chips etc.

§         23 Kudumbashree were selected for each unit based on certain selection criteria.

§         The selected beneficiaries were given detailed training on technology parameters, management system, GMP practices etc.

§         One packing centre was established with high-tech packaging facilities such as FFS machines where grading, sorting and packing of all the products will be carried out with international quality standards.

§         Land and building were provided by concerned grama panchayat and, plant and machinery by district panchayat and working capital as the beneficiary contribution.

§         Prowins Foods (P) Ltd, a private sector company, looks after the marketing of products and hygienic management.  Company manages the centralized packing centre and its supervisors supervise the production activities at production centres to ensure hygienic practices.

§         Credit provided to units if required.

§         Monitoring committees were  constituted at unit level and district level to renew the implementation

§         Selected beneficiaries will utilize the centers as common facility centre

§         Products were marketed in one common brand name “PEOPLE”

§         It is also proposed to establish 42 sales out let by name “people shops’ in which only rural ethnic products of Kudumbashree units and other SHG products will be sold.  Two high tech hypermarkets with an investment of 200 lakh will be established at city and are at Kallambalam near Varkala.