SHG food festival gives new entrepreneurial spirit to women


A view of the people crowd at the SHG Food festival in Marina in Chennai on Monday.

A view of the people crowd at the SHG Food festival in Marina in Chennai on Monday.
| Photo Credit: M. SRINATH

It’s only through women’s self-help groups (SHG) that have I gained the confidence to start any sort of entrepreneurial venture, especially last year, said S. Lakshmi, from Villupuram on Monday. She is part of the Unavu Thiruvizha in Chennai.

The event is organised by the Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihood Movement (TNULLM) under the guidance of the Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation (TNWDC). The event provides an opportunity to 150 women from 65 self-help groups to throw a spotlight on dishes from various districts.

Most of the women in the self-help groups have been running a small business since the last few years. “Our self-help group was formed 25 years ago but only in the last one year, our group has ventured into the packaged food business,” said S. Gandhimathi, 59, of Tiruppur SHG, who has a stall that sold Navadhaniyam idli podi and other packaged items.

She recalled how understanding money and filling out bank forms helped in gaining more confidence. “Its all about independence. The self-help group is about the ability to save and ensure there is back up. Now, we also know how to start a business. We have received encouragement and training from officials. We implemented on a small scale in our district. To see such a response for the self-help groups has given us much needed motivation,” Ms. Gandhimathi added.

From muttai mittai to Arcot biryani, the food festival left no dishes unturned. Lines for biryani stalls were the longest.

Speaking about the food festival, Executive Director TNULM Shreya Singh said that by looking at the response of the festival, there are plans to begin a chain of hotels or cafes run by the SHGs. “This food festival will also build the women into professional entrepreneurs. Many women did have business running but it was on a smaller scale. This will teach them business model and customer interaction,” she said.

The members were given online training from hygiene and cleanliness to cost control and business model. The festival has recorded over 1.5 lakh footfall over the last four days.



Source link

spot_img

More from this stream

Recomended

New political party announced in Darjeeling hills, to push for GorkhalandIsraeli Defense Minister claims responsibility for first time for Hamas leader Haniyeh’s assassinationदुनिया भर में WhatsApp, Facebook और Instagram हुआ डाउन, परेशान हुए यूजर्स70 साल के स्टार पर 31 की एक्ट्रेस कुछ यूं हुई फिदा, मच गया बवाल, एक्टर का आया रिएक्शन- 'लड़ जाऊंगा प्रभु से भी...'Suggest mechanism to redress complaints of animal attack victims, says Kerala HCKC(M) raises concerns over Forest Bill, seeks assurances from CMAt least 21 cybercriminals arrested for duping ₹125 crore in fraud cases across countryChrist’s certitude on mercy - The Hinduरूम हीटर कहीं न बन जाए आपकी जान की दुश्मन, इस्तेमाल के दौरान हो रही मौत, न करें ये 5 गलतियांसितारों से सजी महफिल में मंजू भारती ने लॉन्च कीं 5 फिल्में, मुकेश जे. भारती का मिला साथInfrastructure works among budgetary announcements being implemented in RajasthanBJP cancels internal polls in several places across Madhya Pradesh over alleged violationsTwo workers hospitalised after gas leak at pharma unitAndhra Pradesh aiming for top-tier urban development, says MA&UD MinisterTTD in a fix over effecting changes to SriVani TrustPawan Kalyan inspects road works, drinking water schemes in Penamaluru, Gudivada constituenciesA.P. govt. committed to welfare of Christians, says Chief Minister  फल-सब्जी में केमिकल मिलाने वालों की खैर नहीं, बिहार के 2 छात्रों ने बनाई धांसू डिवाइस, 1 मिनट में खुलेगी पोलElection Commission is a ‘thief’, says Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece'वो एक्टिंग कर रहे हैं, अवॉर्ड देना चाहिए...', जया बच्चन ने घायल BJP सांसदों के लिए कह दी ऐसी बात, ठंड में फिर गर्मा गई राजनीति