From unemployment to the creation of jobs for 10 additional people

Smt. Pinneti Lakshmi, from India (Bejjipuram village in the Srikakulam district), got married at 19 years old. She and her husband were completely dependent on his work in the agriculture sector, and they needed to increase the family income. For that, Lakshmi decided to look for other available opportunities in the village. With that purpose, she joined a self-help group, where she was inspired to start a tea shop in the village. After one year, the tea shop had to close its activities, because Lakhsmi could not even recover opportunity costs.

At that time, the local NGO Youth Club of Bejjipuram was identifying 30 entrepreneurs in the village to be supported to participate in an entrepreneurship training using the SIYB package (GYB and SYB modules). Pinneti Lakshmi was one of the selected participants. After completing the GYB/SYB training programme, she developed a new business idea, which consisted of manufacturing and selling jute products, such as bags, children’s items, files, floor mats and other articles. She obtained membership in the Gogukiranalu Farmer Producer Organization in the Bejjipuram village, which is supported by the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), and she was awarded a 1-month skills improvement training on jute bag manufacturing. Also, she had the support of local banks and she mobilized members of her self-help group to work with her. This way, Lakshmi managed to start her cottage business and sell jute products to retail outlets.

The business currently employs around 10 people from the village, each of them earning a wage of 250-300 Rupees per day. The business is now planning to increase its production capacity and start selling jute products with a national outreach.

"My participation in the GYB/SYB training had a major role in the initiation of my business and the mobilization of other members of the village, creating employment opportunities for me and other 10 people."

Smt. Pinneti Lakshmi