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Like Mother’s Love Updated On 2017-11-10

District: Ernakulam

Block: Vaduvcode

Panchayat: Poothrikka

Name of enterprise: Ammaveedu Cafeteria

Name of the entrepreneur: Karthiyani Vasu

Date of starting enterprise: 29/03/2017

Initial investment: Rs. 29,000

Additional investment: Rs. 1,50,000

Source of investment: Rs. 29,000 Own Funds +Rs. 1,50,000 Mudra Loan

Profit per month (as of October, 2017): Rs. 12,500

Entrepreneur profile: Karthiyani is an NHG member whoseonly incomecame from MGNREGA work.After SVEP MECconducted NHG orientation,Karthiyani decided to start a business, but she did not know what kind of enterprise was suitable for her. SVEP MEC Radha realised thatKarthiyanihas an extra skill in cooking traditional food items and in that a cafeteria is a viable business in that area. As the name of the enterprise indicates, the customers generally say that the food hasthe familiar taste of a mother’s love.

Future plans: At first, she started the business near her house in a small shed. Now the shedhas been replaced by a concrete building.She wants to expandher premises because now only15 people can be accommodated at any time.

MEC supporting the enterprise: Radha C

Entrepreneur Testimony: “We did not have any source for regular income and wewere struggling to meet our basic needs. MEC Radhahas helped in every stage of setting up this business fromgetting a bank loan toarranging the utensils to arranging the necessary permits like the health card, food and safety permit. We are very much thankful to Kudumbashree andRadha.If an elderly couple like us can survive with the new efforts, so can the younger generation.”

Vaishnav Fancy & Gift Centre Updated On 2017-11-09

District: Pathanamthitta

Block: Parakode

Panchayath: Pallickal

Name of the enterprise: Vaishnav Fancy & Gift Centre

Name of the entrepreneur: Anitha

Date of starting enterprise:11/04/2017

Initial Investment: Rs.1,00,000

Additional Investment: Rs.50,000

Source of investment: Rs.1,00,000Bank Loan +Rs.50,000CEF Loan

Profit per month (as of September, 2017): Rs.20,000

Entrepreneur profile: Anitha is a NHG member who used to do work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.Shewould hardly meet the expenses of her family. When SVEP MEC Raji visited the NHG and explained the SVEP project, she decided to start a business. Thus, after considering many factors she decided to start a ‘fancy items’ store.

Future Plans: By understanding the opportunities and market demand,Anitha would like to start a readymade shop together with the fancy store toexpand her entreprise.

Name of the MEC supporting this enterprise: Raji Rajan

Entrepreneur Testimony: “Starting this enterprisehas helped me to generate a regular income. Gradually, ithas increased my family’s standardof living.Now we are able lead a normal life and I feel that am a part of this society. The interaction with more people has changed my attitude and I am thankful toGod and everyone has supported me.”

Created the opportunity Updated On 2017-11-08

District: Pathanamthitta

Block:Parakode

Panchayath:Kadampanadu

Name of the enterprise:Thiruvonam Readymade and footwear.

Name of the entrepreneur:Geetha Kumari

Date of starting enterprise:07/05/2017

Initial Investment:Rs.30,000

Additional Investment:Rs.50,000

Source of investment:Rs. 30,000Gold Loan +Rs.50,000 CEF loan

Profit per month (as of September, 2017):Rs.14,000

Entrepreneur profile: Geetha is a NHG member having relatively better education and financial situation.Her daughter is mentally impaired and this discouraged her from finding or going for work outside the house. It was impossible to leave her daughter alone,and as a result Geetha lost many opportunities. SVEP MEC Sreeja explained the concept of SVEP and advised her to start a business of her interest. Her readymade textile business was started in a separate room close to her house and the MEC provided assistance to setup the business. Understanding the potential of the location, she included footwear also to her inventory.

Future Plans: Its almost half an year since from starting the enterpise.Geetha now plans to rent another room near to her shop,so that she could start a toiloring unit to supplement her garment shop.The ambition of this entrepreneur is to give employment opportunity to 2 more women in the locality.

Entrepreneur Testimony “My family and Iare extremely happy with this enterprise. I now own a business which is helping me overcome so many barriers. My daughter also gets the chance to interact with more peopleand it helps her condition. All these good things happened in our life only because of project and the whole-hearted support of the MEC Sreeja.”

Name of the MEC supporting this enterprise:Sreeja Girish

Entrepreneur Testimony: “My family and Iare extremely happy with this enterprise. I now own a business which is helping me overcome so many barriers. My daughter also gets the chance to interact with more peopleand it helps her condition. All these good things happened in our life only because of project and the whole-hearted support of the MEC Sreeja.”

Siva Sakthi Stores Updated On 2017-11-07

District: Pathanamthitta

Block: Parakode

Panchayath: Pallickal

Name of the enterprise: Siva Sakthi Stores

Name of the entrepreneur:Rethnamma

Date of starting enterprise: 25/03/2017

Initial Investment: Rs.50,000

Additional Investment: Rs.50,000

Source of investment: Rs.50,000 Own Fund +Rs.50,000 CEF loan

Profit per month (as of September, 2017): Rs.13,000

Entrepreneur profile: Rethnamma is a Kudumbashree member and a social activist from the beginning of Kudumbashree. Her husband’s job was the only source of income for her family but unfortunately, he got affected byElephantiasis. This made Rethanamma to think about an income-generating activity including her husband. SVEP MEC Ruby visited the NHG and conveyed the concept of doing business in a systematic way. Rethnammadid not require further convincing to start hergrocery shop under SVEP Project guidance.

Future Plans: Now the shop is running in a very small rented space and it is inconvenient to stock more inventory. She plans to relocate the shop to a larger space nearby and include wider variety of grocery items.

Entrepreneur Testimony: “I would like to thank each and every one who came to my life at the peak of our hardship and encourage me to do something that generates income. With the help and timely advice of Ruby, the business was started and it has created a new life for my me and my family.”

MEC Supporting this enterprise: Ruby

Entrepreneur Testimony: “I would like to thank each and every one who came to my life at the peak of our hardship and encourage me to do something that generates income. With the help and timely advice of Ruby, the business was started and it has created a new life for my me and my family.”

New life, new hope Updated On 2017-11-06

District: Pathanamthitta

Block: Parakode

Panchayath: Kalanjoor

Name of the enterprise: Al Safa Trading

Name of the entrepreneur: Umaiban Beevi

Date of starting enterprise: 25/07/2017

Initial Investment: Rs.1,00,000

Additional Investment: Rs.50,000

Source of investment: Rs.1,00,000 Gold Loan + Rs.50,000 SVEP CEF

Profit per month (as of September, 2017): Rs.12,000

Entrepreneur profile: Umaiban Beevi is a NHG member who was doing odd jobs to meet her family’s day-to-day expenses. Her husband was engaged in the door-to-door sale of vessels. SVEP MEC Beena visited the NHG and conveyed the idea of SVEP. Without much hesitation,Umaibanwas able to start a Plastic & Steel utilities trading business by constructing a separate outlet, with proper and timely guidance from the MEC.

Future Plans: Umaiban wishes to run the business in the best possible way and wants to start a mobile outletwhich will cover remote areas of the block. She also plans to participate in weekly markets and to start a new shop in the block itself.

Name of the MEC supporting this enterprise: Beena

Entrepreneur Testimony: “I came to know about SVEP program when we were facing extreme hardship. Now with the business outlet we are earning well instead. My children are also happier with our current status.Starting from nothing, we now own a thriving business and a small vehicle.”

A bag full of success Updated On 2017-11-05

District: Pathanamthitta

Block: Parakode

Panchayath: Ezhamkulam

Name of the enterprise: S S Big Shopper Unit

Name of the entrepreneurs: Lathika Anil, Vanaja, Geetha

Date of starting enterprise: 28/06/2017

Initial Investment: Rs.50,000

Additional Investment: Rs. 50,000

Source of investment: Rs.50,000 Gold Loan + Rs.50,000 CEF Loan

Profit per month (as of September, 2017): Rs.15,000

Entrepreneur profile: Lathika Anil is a NHG member who always thought of starting a business but the problem was she did not know how to start a business. SVEP MEC Jessy Reji visited the NHG and explained about the SVEP program.The MEC also found two more interested members, Vanaja and Geetha. While interacting with these three,the MEC found that these members know tailoring and Lathika was trained from RSETI in big shopper making. By identifying the market opportunity for eco-friendly bags, the MEC suggested Lathika to train the other two in bag-making. Considering the advice of the MEC, the three women started a ‘big shopper’ unit.They collect orders for bags from shops located in Adoor, Parakode and Kodumon. Initially they started with second-hand machinesbut now they have purchased modern machines after getting loan from CEF.

Future Plans: The enterprise currently functions out of a room at Lathika’s house. There is a plan to construct a separate room and to develop the unit further by including screen printing technology so that they can increase the production by taking bulk orders from big business entities.

Name of the MEC supporting this enterprise: Jessy Reji

Entrepreneur Testimony: “It was a dream that we thought would never come true, to start an enterprise like this. We are whole heartedly thankful to SVEP Project and the MEC for making this dream come true.”

Aiswarya Curry Powder Unit Updated On 2017-11-04

District: Pathanamthitta

Block: Parakode

Panchayath: Kalanjoor

Name of the enterprise: Aiswarya Curry Powder unit

Name of the entrepreneur: Radhamaniyamma

Date of starting enterprise: 23/01/2017

Initial Investment: Rs.8,500

Additional Investment: Rs. 30,000

Source of investment: Rs.8,500 Thrift Loan+Rs.30,000 SVEP CEF

Profit per month (as of September, 2017): Rs.9,000

Entrepreneur profile: Radhamaniyamma is a longstanding NHG member. She was grapplingwith extensive poverty and could not afford the medical expense of handicapped husband.When she came to know about SVEP through the MEC, she became interested in starting an enterprise.

Future Plans: At present, the entreprenur carries out a door-to-door sales but she plans to expand her business. Radhamaniyamma wishes to start an outlet and also to setup a flour mill as part of her business.

Name of the MEC supporting the enterprise: Athira

Journey to good health Updated On 2017-11-03

District: Pathanamthitta

Block:Parakode

Panchayath:Ezhamkulam

Name of the enterprise:Tengil Provison Stores

Name of the entrepreneur:Valsala Kumari T

Date of starting enterprise:04/03/2017

Initial Investment:Rs. 25,000

Additional Investment:Rs. 25,000

Source of investment:Rs.15,000 Thrift Loan + Rs. 10,000 borrowed from friends & Relatives; Rs.25,000 SVEP CEF

Profit per month (as of September, 2017):Rs.10,000

Entrepreneur profile: Valsala Kumari was really in need of a livelihood activity to meet her daily household expenses and her husband’s medical expenses. When she came to know more about SVEP Program through MEC Jessy Reji, she was immediately interested in starting an enterprise. Considering her interest and feasibility of the location, MEC advised to start a small grocery shop in the home itself. Initially she started the shop with a stock of Rs. 20,000 and was having sale up to Rs. 800 per day. In that phase, with the CEF loan from SVEP she was able to increase and diversify her stock. Now the shop has daily sales of Rs. 1,200.

Future Plans: She plans to construct a room outside her house for the shop so that she will be able to do provide a more professional business.

Name of the MEC Supporting this Enterprise: Jessy Reji

Entrepreneur Testimony:“Now I am very satisfied than ever before because this enterprise keeps me and my husband engaged.It helped us to forget the health issues and the misery of not having a kid.”

Overcoming failures with SVEP Updated On 2017-11-02

District: Ernakulam

Block: Vadavucode

Panchayath: Kunnathunad

Name of the Enterprise: Amma’s Soap Products

Name of the Entrepreneur: Usha

Initial investment: Rs.30,000

Additional investment: Rs.70,000

Source of investment: Rs.50,000 Own Investment + Rs.50,000 CEF loan

Profit per month (as of September, 2017): Rs. 17,000

Entrepreneur profile:Usha is a housewife who has had education till class 10. She had great ambition to become an entrepreneur and she had started so many businesses like broom making, soap powder making, candle making, etc.However, without proper guidance and marketing, she couldn’t succeed in any of the businesses.Her debt from these businesses hadcome to Rs.3.5 lakhs. At that time SVEP MEC Sobi John visited her NHG, and this is how she came to know about SVEP. Usha initially wanted to start a hotel business but this required a higher investment.The MEC advised Usha to leveragethe skill she already had in making soap powder making.With the collaboration and support of Sobi John, the enterprise was started. With successful marketing and monitoring, the venture is now being run successfully. She is now gradually repaying all her previous debts.

Future plan: Usha wants to make Amma soap powder a brand that is famous all over Kerala. She dreams of the dayAmmasoap powder is sold in every supermarket in the state.

MEC supporting enterprise: Sobi John

Entrepreneur Testimony: “Failures are the stepping stone to success and each failure has taught me a new lesson - to rise again and walk towards success. I am thankful to SVEP and MEC Sobi for helping me in this journey.”

Jaya Mol Updated On 2017-11-01

District: Ernakulam

Block:Vadavucode

Name of MEC: Jaya Mol

Smt. JayaMol who was selected as a Micro Enterprise Consultant in June, 2016, had undergone various levels of training till April 2017. On the basis of the training, she began to approach prospective business entrepreneurs and supported two enterprises in January, 2017 while she was still undergoing training.

Initially she would approach the CDS and through it go to the ADS and would further move over to NHG from where she would find out those who are interested to become an entrepreneur. She would apprise them of the business potential and persuade them to start an enterprise. After identifying the potential persons, she would also provide help for finding space for starting the business, license, machinery, raw materials, marketing strategy etc. Smt. Jayamol would also guide them for improving business, expanding sales and marketing.

As part of the MEC group supporting Vadavucode block, her assigned area of operation is AikaranadPanchyat, she has travelled the length and breadth of the Panchayat and met hundreds of villagers explaining to them the avenues and opportunities open to them under this scheme. Special emphasis is being given to persuade people belonging to financially backward families.

For almost one year, she has been creating awareness about SVEP in the Panchayat, she has been able to mobilize public opinion in favor of helping villagers to stand on their own by starting new business initiatives. She has already helped the formation of 20 enterprises and assisted in various stages of their growth in Aikaranad.These enterprises include bakery, tailoring service, vegetable shop, vehicle number plate service, soap making, and pickle making. All these units are performing excellently with good business and turnover yielding reasonably good return for the entrepreneurs. Some of them have already started expansion/diversification projects.

Smt. Jayamol feels quite satisfied as having done her humble part well in helping a number of persons to start new businesses of their own to earn a livelihood and enabling them to have a successful family life. Since starting this new mission as Micro Enterprise Consultant under SVEP, Smt. Jayamol has undergone tremendous change to the effect that now she can successfully manage a large group of persons by addressing them in a public forum, telling them about the scheme and persuading them to start new business units. She has grown into a highly motivating trainer for the new entrepreneurs. While helping a good number of persons to start new business units and thereby achieve financial strength, Smt. Jayamol is getting small returns by way of commission for the support she provides for businesses.

MEC quote: “As an SVEP MEC,I am satisfied now that I can help those who deserve it and I am also getting more respect from the society!”