Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Micro Food Processing

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Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Micro Food
Processing
Forty-six-year-old Kalavathi resides in GD Mara
slum with her two sons, one daughter and ailing
husband. She is an informal waste picker and the
breadwinner in her family. With no other means
of livelihood and family support, she is forced
to go and collect waste in the morning
hours. Kalavathi started waste picking in her
childhood alongside her parents. She continued
the same profession even after getting married
at the tender age of sixteen. To make ends meet,
she goes for waste picking in the morning and
evening, and earns a few more pennies selling
fritters in the neighbourhood. Kalavathi
completed all the three women empowerment
training modules (life skill, life skill plus
and entrepreneurship development) with a lot of
interest and zest. Following the training, she
wanted to expand her tiffin-making business by
adding dosa and idli to her menu. CARE India,
through its Rural Livelihood Programme, supported
her in procuring dosa and idli making equipment,
which comprises an Idli storage box, grinder,
kadhai, steel bowls, spatulas, and dosa pan.
This helped her to diversify her menu by
preparing Dosa and Idli. CARE India also
facilitated her enrolment for a gas cylinder
connection and stove to promote hassle-free
cooking. Initially, she was earning Rs 200 per
day from her fritter business, but now earns
rupees 500 daily (within a months time of
incorporating dosa and idli in her
business). Even today, she goes for waste picking
early in the morning and opens her business
around 10 am. Kalavathi earns, on average, about
rupees 700 daily from waste picking and her
snacks business. She is now also in a position to
take better care of her children and ailing
husband. About the Programme The CARE India
Rural Livelihood Programme aims to enhance the
economic and social conditions of rural
communities throughout India. The programme
focuses on providing training and support to
farmers and other rural entrepreneurs, aiming to
improve their income and livelihoods. Women
empowerment in India is a key component of the
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programme, as it promotes gender equality and
recognizes the importance of women education in
India. By promoting women entrepreneurship and
engagement with marginalised communities, the
programme aims to facilitate rural livelihood
development and ensure sustainable economic
growth. Through these efforts, the CARE India
Rural Livelihood Programme is making a positive
impact on the lives of rural communities and
contributing to sustainable development in India.