BUSINESS WORKSHOP FOR SHG WOMEN

Hand in Hand, with support from Traidcraft Exchange, a UK-based charity, and The National Lottery organized a workshop in Chennai to explore new business opportunities for women self-help groups in Chennai.

At a recent business workshop held in Chennai for SHG women, an online database, developed by Traidcraft to market SHG products, was unveiled. This will enable people across the world to gain web-access to products manufactured by self-help groups. The workshop aimed to analyze the challenges, opportunities and support-systems for self-help groups and suggest how effective business development services can help create profitable micro-enterprises. It served as a platform to bring together different stakeholders in this process – NGOs, self-help group members, funding partners, developmental practitioners. SHG women came from across the state shared business experiences at the forum.

Traidcraft Exchange and Hand in Hand have come together to provide sustainable livelihoods to 1,500 tsunami-affected women. Traidcraft presented the findings of a recent study on the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu. The study was based on surveys conducted in the four tsunami-affected districts of Puducherry, Villupuram, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore. One of the key findings of the research was the need for new partnerships and avenues to market self-help group products. “The challenge is to make products more accessible and affordable,” the study said.

Speaking on the occasion, Jaeda Harmon, researcher for Traidcraft, said: “SHG women who establish successful business have a strong entrepreneurial desire. They try to overcome the obstacles in their path. They are truly inspiring.” The next step is to develop new and innovative SHG products that are attractive to consumers so that they get a good price for the SHG business, she added.

Dr. Neeti Malhothra , Country Director, Traidcraft; Ms. Barbara Scott, Training and Business Consultant, Traidcraft; Mr.Hemantha Kumar Pamarthy, MD, HiH Microfinance; Mr. K. P. Kasturi, MD, HHMFL; and Dr. N Jeyaseelan, COO, HiH Tamil Nadu were also present.