Kamla Foundation has led on the development of a comprehensive and varied programmeme of micro-enterprises in order for the communities to break out of the "cycle of dependency" that so often traps the poor.
The general enterprises include:
- Small vending establishments
- Nursery raising and vermi compost making
- Vegetable garden promotion
- Goat or sheep rearing
- Garment making and handicraft items
- Other local resource based enterprise activities
The activities are low investment and simple technology oriented, enabling the recipients to form a manageable base and structure to their enterprise, which they can then maintain or develop at their own pace.
The target beneficiaries are the families of low subsistence level farming communities. The major source of livelihood for them is seasonal agricultural labouring and occasional construction work.
Each beneficiary is supported according to their independent needs in line with their chosen enterprise. They are supported by a combination of intensive skills training, one to one mentoring, business start-up advice and finance and provided with related training opportunities. A Committee of local women has been formed to oversee and manage the process. The Committee identify the potential beneficiaries, support and monitor the project activities and manage the entire process through to evaluation. The Ford Trust co-ordinates the whole programmeme on behalf of the Foundation.
The Case Studies relate the stories of some of the women who have received training and grants to start up or develop their businesses. They show how just a small investment can make such an extraordinary difference to the lives of the families. Most of them have succeeded to the point of earning an income good enough to meet at least their basic needs and thereby allowing them to start rebuilding a more stable base for their family. Furthermore, the self-belief and respect shown by the wider community grows alongside their enterprise.
Fish Rearing Project
The young men involved in this micro-enterprise project belong to the Mutharaiyar community, who are one of the most deprived rural communities in Tamil Nadu. They live well below the poverty line, and even below the standards generally experienced by the Dalit community.
The idea is to purchase fish eggs to rear in a tank. The total return is estimated at more than 10 times (less their initial outlay) after six months. The number of youth involved is 15. It is a local resource based enterprise that will benefit the wider community. This project is on-going as planned and overseen by the Ford Trust. It will take a number of months before harvest and at that time the returns will be calculated and related and further support identified.
"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime"
Chinese Proverb