Project Proposal

Brief of Project Proposal

This proposal is presented by Shroffs Foundation Trust (SFT) to carry out an Economic Upliftment Project for Below Poverty Line (BPL) family tribal women of Chhota Udepur area. The main objective of the project is to use tribal craft skills of this community and convert these crafts into contemporary products which will be sold into urban market through a proven business model and thereby help in bringing these families to Above Poverty Line (APL) level.

SFT has outlined a plan for this project based on Self-help group methodology which has been successfully used in the pilot project carried out in this area along with District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) sponsored “Watershed Project”. While working on Watershed Project, SFT realized that the tribals need to improve their living standards and quality of life by generating alternative source of income. The majority of tribal community are having very low income since their only sources of income are collecting and selling raw forest and do stray farming during monsoon. SFT decided to do a study on how to create a new source of income, which can improve their living standards and augment their current income. The study revealed that the tribal community has inherent handicraft skills, which are left within their homes and has not been much utilized to generate any income. This conclusion has led SFT to work towards converting these skills into an income-generating tool for these tribals.

It has been established that the best approach to make any tribal community project successful, is to bring the tribal under one common forum and provide financial support for training, capacity building, tying up of forward and backward linkage to develop their entrepreneur. SFT has used this approach in implementing various projects, including the “Watershed Project” in this area and also the pilot project on “Tribal Crafts” on which this project is built.

Project Implementation: Strategy & Approach
The project shall be implemented, monitored and controlled through Project Implementating cell of the organization with full time Project Staff.

Benchmark Survey:
Survey designed an external professional and carried out by SFT field workers after appropriate training. This Survey aims to measure the existing social, economic and health status of the BPL families. The findings of this survey will be the basis to evaluate the impact of interventions through the project.

Cluster Approach:
An integrated approach for the development of a cluster of 37 villages.
The following time-tested, step-by-step and fool-proof strategies are being adopted:

	Village PRA, Gram Sabha, group meetings, home visits to form SHGs
	Formation and Stabilization of SHGs through capacity-building for income generation and entrepreneurship, conflict resolution and regular meetings
	Actual skill training and enhancement of skills in handicrafts
	Formation of Producer Company
	Linkages of Income Generation Programme for Handicraft and other business activity as per area need.
	Development of Infrastructure (Production Center, Craft Centers in 12 villages, Design Studio, Marketing Offices, and Retail Shop in Vadodara)
	Integrating health and literacy programs in the Groups.

Action Plan: Key Areas
SHGs:
Raising the standard of living of 1500 BPL families through the Formation of 130 SHGs empowerment through various capacity building programmes and linked to Income Generation Activities.

	SHGs Formation.
	750 SHG members linkages to income generation through animal husbandry(cattle, poultry, goats), lift irrigation, small businesses in the trading and service sectors.
	750 SHG members linkages to Handicraft business.
	Training (Capacity Building, Skill Training, Managerial Training).
	Management (Establishing Linkages, Infrastructure Development – craft centers, design studio, development of processes for design creation, Setting up Production units and establishing QC Processes).
	Marketing (Product Design Portfolio, Retail Shop, Exhibition marketing plan, Brand Positioning & Image-building, Exploring existing channels for domestic and international marketing).
	Formation of Producer Company.

Action Plan: Highlights
        Skill Training: - Handicraft – Bead, Embroidery, Tailoring, Weaving

	Development of replicable Skill Training Modules as well as a special Prototype Module of 36 designs, with detailed pratical and theory classes.
	300 women will be trained, who will, in turn, train 500 others in the future.
	For each training schedule will be for 6 months under a local master craftsperson.
	Incentive amount paid on completion of the training pieces in lieu of a stipend.
	Trainers receive nutritious meal during the training period cooked by themselves as per our guideline.

Design Studio

	Design Reference and Samples Library
	Training Portfolios
	Reference Material Sample Stores

Production Unit

	Raw Material Sourcing & Procurement
	Printing and Kit-making
	Production Process
	Quality Assurance
	Stock Maintenance

Sales & Marketing

	Job Orders
	Retail Sales
	Exhibitions
	Collaborative Projects with Institutions
	Brand Development

Infrastructure

	Production Unit at Rangpur Village, 2 acres
	Craft Centers, one each at 12 identified project villages, 2500-3000 sq ft each
	Shop & Design Studio, Vadodara, 3000 sq ft

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