Sustainable women enterprises for tribal women in Aravalli by WHEELS

WHEELS Global Foundation, IEEE-ISV and NGO Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti will be establishing sustainable women enterprises for tribal women in Aravalli district, Gujarat / Courtesy Photo

Agriculture-related activities are the primary source of employment for rural women in India. The 2011 census identified 36 million women farmers and 61 million women agricultural laborers.

However, heavy mechanization in farming and the extensive use of chemicals and herbicides have drastically reduced the number of working days available for women in the agriculture sector. Consequently, many women have lost their primary livelihoods and been pushed to the fringes of the economy. Without alternative employment sources or skills and facing prolonged economic downturns, especially after demonetization in India and the COVID-19 pandemic, these women have slipped into deep crises.

In response, WHEELS Global Foundation and IEEE-ISV (Integrated Smart Village Initiative of IEEE), in collaboration with the NGO Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti, have launched a joint initiative to empower the most disadvantaged sections of rural Indian society, specifically women-led households, by building capacity for small-scale decentralized social enterprises.

The Aravalli range, rich in flora and fauna, is home to a population primarily consisting of Scheduled Tribes (ST) who continue to practice traditional methods of cultivation and forest produce collection. This project aims to transform individual efforts into collective enterprises and assist in the organized marketing of forest produce, thereby increasing the earnings of the tribal community and reducing exploitation by middlemen.

The project will benefit the tribal community of seven Gram Panchayats in the Bhiloda block of Aravalli district: Shamalpur, Bhavanpur, Waghpur, Devni Mori, Dhandhasan, Shamalaji, and Ode. To initiate the project, eight rural enterprises will be established within a year, directly benefiting 50 tribal women and indirectly benefiting 300 tribals in the region. These enterprises will utilize local farm and forest-based resources such as honey, bee wax, organic ginger, turmeric, neem oil, and products like agarbatti, mosquito repellent, dhoopbatti, and hawan samagri.

To economically and socially empower rural women, numerous Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be formed, each consisting of 11 to 15 women members. Each SHG will have a bank account and be credit-linked with rural banks to facilitate loans and other financial transactions. The 50 tribal women selected for the project, based on their interest, passion, commitment, household support, and vulnerability profile, will receive comprehensive training in all aspects of running an enterprise, from procurement to manufacturing to marketing. They will also be trained in accounting, bookkeeping, and marketing.

With adequate capacity, structures and processes in place, over the period of three years the program aims to be self-sustaining with the support of local communities. Although the primary aim is to empower rural women socially and financially, the effort also has varied social, economic, and environmental impacts.

These include the regeneration of forests, improvement in the quality of agricultural and horticultural produce, promotion of organic farming to reduce environmental degradation, and the creation of pollution-free and hazard-free industries. This initiative enriches indigenous resources, protects the environment, enhances the skills of vulnerable and economically weaker tribal women, artisans, and farmers, and builds a sustainable economy.

WHEELS Global Foundation leverages its IIT alumni ecosystem, including leaders in corporate roles, CSR officers, IAS officers in central and state governments, NGO partners, and the like-minded community, to support the efforts of Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti across the tribal women community of Aravalli, Gujarat. For more information, visit the WHEELS website at www.wheelsglobal.org and explore the 'Get Involved' section to discover numerous ways to be part of the journey.

The Author is Marketing and Communications Manager, WHEELS Global Foundation.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)