RIPA giving a new dimension to the ambitions of young rural entrepreneurs

Sheikh Abdul Kadir, Assistant Professor, Journalism and Mass Communication, faculty of Arts and Humanities. Email: sheikhabdul.kadir@kalingauniversity.ac.in.

On the initiative of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, Gauthans in villages are being developed as Rural Industrial Park where various livelihood oriented activities are being conducted with the objective to provide employment and means of income to poor families in rural areas. In the first phase of the scheme, two Gauthans have been selected in each development block.

In these Rural Industrial Parks, basic facilities, infrastructure such as road, electricity, water and drain system, work-shed, storage, training, marketing support, technical guidance, etc. are being made available to the villagers. Under this scheme, interested local youth, self-help groups, the entrepreneurs are being identified and provided the required machinery, bank loan on the basis of business plan, grant, subsidy or loan at zero interest rate as per eligibility under various schemes. The facilities and support provided by the government through RIPA is giving a new dimension to the dreams and ambitions of the young rural entrepreneurs.

*Industrial park has become a source of additional income for the poor families in rural areas *

 In Birkoni Gauthan of Mahasamund district, women self-help group is becoming self-sufficient by engaging in the income-oriented activities. There are 10 women in Nari Shakti Self Help Women’s Group and these women are earning good profits from the work of making Dona-Pattal. Earlier these women were only focused on saving money, but now they have started enterprising. Recently, in the enterprise established under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park (RIPA) in Birkoni Gauthan, women have started making dona pattal. Block Project Manager (BPM) of the group Ms. Rekha Rani Nagpure said that with the help of Rural Livelihoods Mission and with the installation of Dona Pattal Making machine, this work has become more efficient and convenient.

It is noteworthy that the Dona Pattal making machine was installed in RIPA recently, and after completion of the training provided by the Administration, the production was commenced. So far, the women of the self-help group are earning a profit of Rs 15,000 by supplying more than 25,000 dona pattals for wedding and other functions and programmes taking place in the village and surrounding areas. Dona Pattal products of this group are high on demand in the adjacent villages and cities as well.

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