Conversations - Part 1

Recently, I was having discussion with Dr B.V.Parameswara Rao, founder of Bhagavatula Charitable Trust. We were discussing on Social Entrepreneurship and tried to address two areas - Micro Financing, involvement of Technology in Rural Development.

Micro-Financing
Dr. Rao feels that this has changed the life of a farmer. This is just not helping him to come out of his miseries, however adding to them. Why? Micro-Financing is providing loans to the poor to help enable them to spend more. What is happening here is, instead of providing avenues for the farmer to add more money to his savings, we are drastically increasing his financial burden. Until recently, if he earns Rs. 10 / Day, his expenses were nearly Rs. 8 and at least on an average, he would save Rs. 2. But, with micro-financing coming in, now he need not run behind banks for a loan. Loans from these institutions come a bit conveniently and add up to his burden. As his loans are increasing, his savings are coming down (Micro-financing institutions also have their eligibility criteria which take care of over-burdening too)

Moving away from Farming
Today, there are many farmers who are selling their land and moving to towns nearby for more money. If on an average, a farmer earns Rs. 40 per day from the crop he has brought up, today, he is working as a daily wage laborer for around Rs. 60. He is looking at the Rs. 20 which he earns more than his usual earning which comes only after he sells the crop, but he is not looking at what he is loosing. If this continues to grow, then one day we will definitely be short of food grains to eat and this would impact one and all.

So, what can be done different to help?
We would need to educate and help rural citizens to realize what they can do and provide a helping hand for the work they would do. We need to tune them to help themselves instead of showing them the colours of easy money. This would have a deep impact on them as an individual and also help strengthen the economy.

Government should only do Governance!
An interesting and very simple thought. We have Government to streamline various activities and provide support to public needs. However, today, Government is getting into various activities and diluting the main cause of its existence. If the Government can concentrate on streamlining funds, providing support to its public by strategic investments, it would help benefit the society.

Education
When China decided to concentrate on providing education for all, it had a very good foresight. During that time, they ensured that every citizen of their country is educated which would over a period of time ensure 100% employment which would strengthen their economy.

Today, in India we have a good education system in place - Right from the Government Primary Education centers to pursuing high degrees. However, there are challenges which are obstructing the quality of education. As an example, today, for 4 teachers appointed in schools at the Primary Education Centers, only 2 are available.


Spend Time in Villages
Today, we have quite-a-few people who live in towns/cities who are showing interest in contributing to provide support to the rural poor. The best way to solve or address rural problems is to understand the actual life of people in villages. We need to spend time with them in person to understand the problem and provide required support.

Note: Thoughts and views mentioned above are purely of my choice. There is no correlation to any activities which happen today or any organizations which participate in any of the above mentioned activities.

Entrepreneurship Mentoring from TiE

TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), Bangalore Chapter is offering mentorship programs for budding Entrepreneurs. However, this mentoring program is only for TiE Members. Please visit http://www.bangalore.tie.org/Home to know how to become a member and there after how to enroll for their Mentorship Program.

NEN activities for Entrepreneurs

Business in Development Challenge 2007

India Development Gateway (IDG), an IntelliCap initiative is organizing "Business in Development Challenege 2007" which provides entrepreneurs to submit their business plan and recieve feedback for the same. Also, if your's is the choosen plan, then you recieve cash prize too.

Global Growth Entrepreneurship Program

India School of Business is organizing the Global Growth Entrepreneurship Program for Entrepreneurs and Managers at SME's.

Dastkar Andhra Exibition in Bangalore

The cotton and handloom industry is considered as a huge potential as 'cottage industry' in India. This industry provides self-employment to over 70 lakhs people across the country. Government of India has taken appropriate measures to ensure that this industry is given due importance and this resulted in a massive increase of production of handloom fabrics. In the early 1950's the produce was around 500 Million Sq. Meters, and during 2000-2001, recorded more than 7600 Million Sq. Meters. This industry contributes to more than 20% of total cloth produced in the country.

This industry has its own set of concerns and the powerloom sector gives a very tough competition. There are non-profit organizations which are working towards providing a helping hand to such small scale home / cottage industries to reach out to the world.

Dastakar Andhra is a not-for-profit organization which works within Andhra Pradesh to promote the interests of the producer communities within the cotton handloom weaving industry.

Dastakar Andha is having an exibition of equisite handloom fabrics, dupattas and sarees including natural dyed fabrics in Bangalore.
Venue: The Lady Jehangir Kothari Memorial Hall, 15 Quees Road, Bangalore - 01.
Dates: 1 June - 4 June 2007.
Time: 10:30 AM - 8:00 PM.

If you are in Bangalore, do take some time to visit...

Entrepreneurship Learning

I came across the web site of Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), Ahmadabad. This institute offers courses for aspiring entrepreneur's. Do any courses or books give you the edge to become an Entrepreneur? Probably not, but we definitely need understanding of various aspects of how to run an organization. This is what we need to look for. I am planning to enroll for the Diploma in Business Entrepreneurship. The course fee is only Rs.5000 (in case you are a Technology graduate, they give you Rs.2,500 instant waiver in fees).
I am really impressed with the kind of support various educational and government organizations are providing us to learn more and inspire to take the country forward. I think it is moral responsibility for each of us to ensure we utilize these courses/seminars/workshops to think forward.

Social Entrepreneurship - The case for Definition

Recently, I came across Stanford Social Innovation Review web site and I got to read they article on Social Entrepreneurship - The case for Definition which really interested me. I will not take this note towards explaining the site or the article, but will pen down my initial impression when I read this article by Roger L Martin & Sally Osberg.

It is really a case for definition. The article begins with a little introduction to Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, but actually concentrates in defining what "Social Entrepreneurship" is all about. If you think that you are going to get introduced to organizations like Ashoka etc, then you might be disappointed. The authors take you to a journey into defining Entrepreneurship and why is it passonating to "be there, and do that".

It is worth if you personally read it than me trying to write in my own words.

I highly recommed each one to read this article. It is really worth it....

Rural BPO

I was reading about this organization in the recent issue of Business Today (India's Most Wired, 22 April, 2007) and have been quite impressed with the young lady's initiative.

Ms.Saloni malhotra, a 25 year old graduate from Bharateeya Vidyapeeth, Pune is inspired by Dr.Ashok Jhunjhunwala's speeches. Her mission is to "turn rural internet centers into BPO's".

DesiCrew.In, based in Chennai, acts as a mediator between the client and the far end BPO. The internet center in a Rural area acts as a BPO. The work is channalised to the Rural BPO through DesiCrew. The BPO is not more than a 3 computer center with Internet and Network. The employed are people living in the area with minimum education/knowledge in English/language which is required to get the work done (Its not that simple, DesiCrew has a rigourous selection criteria) . Kinds of work includes - Data entry, Digitisation of records for Government, proof reading of books and little of CAD work. These BPO's have delivered work for around 20 clients till date (this is just few months old organisation). Work pricing ranges from Rs.20,000 (~$480) to Rs.3,00,000 (~$7,186) and this in return earns around Rs.8,000 ($192) to Rs.12,000 ($287) per month which is quite impressive to begin with. Current strength of the organization is around 60 and Ms.Saloni anticipates that this would grow to around 200 people this year.

This is a very small beginning and DesiCrew wants to build the world's best network of service providers.

Visit the website and it has upto the point information available. The site is very simple, yet elegent. Now, this is what I call SocialEntrepreneurship.

Excellent job...