Kerala buys 80% of its food products from other states. The quality of that food is also compromised, as often vegetables and fruits have been contaminated with pesticides. Every day 3000 people are diagnosed with diabetes. Fifty thousand Keralites are diagnosed with cancer each year. More than 10% of India’s total drug sales are in Kerala. All these suggest we are not quite healthy in God’s Own Country. We are also heavily dependent on hydroelectricity for power supply. Despite being one of the wettest states in India, our ground water is so saline and unfit for drinking that in many parts of the state people are parched and have to stand in long queues in front of public water taps.
Kerala’s problems are several. Sandesh One aims to turn at least some of these problems into entrepreneurial opportunities. These are all problems that we can resolve internally. Sandesh One is a programme where a 1000 plus member entrepreneurs’ network will be set up in all the 1000 plus local bodies of Kerala providing mass employment at the grassroots level by promoting various micro-enterprises. The completely entrepreneur-driven venture is initiated by Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) under the state Social Justice Department. Under the program, women entrepreneurs will be selected from village panchayats and a six months training to be an entrepreneur will be given under the aegis of IIM Ahmedabad and IL&FS, a major skill development company in the country. The women will be trained to run micro units that will offer solutions in areas such as precision farming, advanced fish breeding, high density plantation, renewable energy, preventive health care applications, clinics, water management, waste management, afforestation and steam cooking. Sandesh One is the country’s biggest platform for women social entrepreneurs. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy on January 12th, 2015 at Thiruvananthapuram. He went on to say that the programme was a “revolutionary movement”. Mr Oommen Chandy also said that pioneering women-centred initiatives ranging from Kudumbashree to She Taxi have brought Kerala laurels both nationally and internationally and Sandesh One promises to join the ranks of these life-changing programs.
MK Muneer, Minister for Panchayats and Social Justice, said that considerable interest in the project has been shown from northern districts of Kozhikode and Kannur as well and hope that the application and processing will be completed soon to move on to the next stage. Sandesh One is a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership (PPP) social enterprise. The program was initiated in five districts in the state- Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Alappuzha and Kottayam. P.T. Mohammad Sunish, the CEO of the state-run Gender Park, said this is a project which asks zero investment from the government.
The state government and KSWDC will play the role of just facilitators. The KSWDC will arrange loans for their training and set up centres. We will also provide them promotional support and ensure tie up with other stakeholders in the government:’ Sunish said. Other than IIM Ahmedabad and IL&FS, several institutions, including top B-schools, trade associations and about 20 nearest Akshaya centre.
The Sandesh One entrepreneur will earn a margin on the products and the services she offers or sells directly or indirectly. Income is also generated from AMC/after-sales of products and services sold through the program. It is definitely the boost the young women entrepreneurs in solution providers are also partnering with the initiative. Apart from the residential training; the selected entrepreneurs would go through a product orientation program, where they will be familiarised with products and services offered by the Sandesh network.
The program is intended for women who are from the age of 21 to 45, with a minimum qualification of Bachelor’s degree. Only one candidate is to be selected from each Panchayath. The selected candidates can either start their chosen business by opening a store with either their own money or with the offered loan of two lakh rupees by the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation at 6% interest. Registrations are done either online or by visiting the Kerala needed. Sandesh One will be implemented in other parts of the country and this will enhance the opportunity for women in the nation.
The level of economic development of a country can be measured by the numbers of women entering into the world of entrepreneurship. Women play a vital part in economic development throughout the world. Every 1 : 11 women in the world are involved with entrepreneurship according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). That ratio is too low one feels. Programs like the Sandesh One will only help making our country economically stronger by giving more opportunities to the women. Sandesh One seems like the change our women were hoping for.