Session Report on 3-Day Entrepreneurship Training at Angaon, Bhiwandi

  Sessions 

Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana (PMYY)

Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana (Yuva Udyamita Vikas Abhiyan) is a is a centrally sponsored Scheme on entrepreneurship education and training being implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. One of the main deliverables of this scheme is to develop and deliver entrepreneurship education to all citizens free of charge through Massive Open On – line Courses (MOOCs) and other on – line programmes accessible through a Learning Management System (LMS) and Design an assessment and certification mechanism. 

The purpose of PMYY was communicated to the women in their tongue. How do they benefit in the purpose of this scheme. Creating awareness of the same also helps the artisan understand their importance in the value chain.

Dream Documentation

While it is not necessary to see the whole ladder to make the first step it is important to lead your path. Thus, before the hands-on training the women were asked to let their intentions and expectations from their life in regard to business run wild with chart papers and color pens. With the help of moderators, the women imagined and sketched the kind of business they want to have, the work they want to do, the name they would give it and the ways in which they will promote it. 

This really helped women foresee the business they will own someday, to tap into the potential and prospects. This also make them more receptive to the skills they will be learning in the sessions.

Registration of NIESBUD and Udyog Aadhar

The National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India engaged in Training, Consultancy, Research and Publication, in order to promote entrepreneurship. The women were registered on NIESBUD with the documentation help of the moderators. Women were also registered on Udyog Aadhar which help the women artisans in ways more than one. 

For instance, fast resolution of disputes, collateral Free loans from bank, exclusive consideration for participating in international trade fair, concession on electricity bills, Increasing eligible loan limit for optimal reasons and protection against delay in payment and increasing loan eligibility limit from the amount of Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh.

Basic Business Skills

In this session of Basic Business skills beneficiaries were elementary concepts of business like procurement of resources or raw materials, selling proposition, leadership, problem solving, networking and coming up with a product that has a demand in the market. 

These concepts were taught with local references so they retain the best. Examples of the nearby markets, producer communities were given. The agenda of making business seem simple and approachable was well achieved when women responded with the information of their locality.

Accounting and Book Keeping

In this session the concept of credit and debit was illustrated to them, which forms the basis of accounting and book keeping. They are not versed with the concept of documenting their expenses and earnings which does not encourage savings. Instead of big jargons, the concept of ‘hisaab’ was talked upon with examples from their life and day to day business which they interact with every day.

Order Management

Though it is the oldest and most basic cycle of commerce, managing orders in a  economy, it can be a surprisingly complex challenge. Basics of collection of processes and actions involved in the successful delivery of a product to a client. Considering that the value chains are shorter, the participants like the customer,  artisan, middleman, retailer and delivery were discussed and their roles. 

On interaction we found out that women who are already living in small communities are aware of the concept of feedback, review, positive and negative consumer experiences. 

Product Pricing

Most women who were attending the session did not own a business and thus the concept of how the price of the product is decided was completely new to them. In the colloquial terms, the basics were broken down with the concepts of Break-even price, profit margin, bulk selling/purchase and distribution channel of the product.

To illustrate this, case studies of real-life business were used of local vendors, the product, the pricing, the way they distributed and made profit/loss. 

Social Media Marketing 

In this day and age, social media has made selling simple. By providing a distribution base so large with little or no investment in making the offer. But this isn’t approachable for most women as majority of them do not have an account on social media. Thus, we approached a more doable form of internet marketing, via Whatsapp.

The basis of online marketing was illustrated through Whatsapp, broadcasting, making groups, using stories etc. More information will be shared in forthcoming counselling sessions where they would be taught how to make content and post it to promote their business. 

Product Showcase and Shoot

In product showcase, women from different households and communities bought the products they made. Some were made in the course of the project WASEP, some were made by themselves. Apart from this a shoot also followed of their products for documentation purposes. 

This session gave ample of floor to hold the conversations of different art and skill which different individuals practiced, proving the perfect closing to the workshop.

Tea & Snacks Break

This break was conducted every day, where women had the space to talk to each other and the mentors. This gave them space to wander and engage. Many women found interests in learning from each other. Lot of questions and discussions took place as they unwind with tea and snacks.