Impact Feature #4

15-Jan-2018, Mumbai: The Don Bosco Development Society (DBDS), Mumbai participated in the exhibition-cum-sale event organized by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from 12th-14th January 2018. The event was organized by Urban Poverty Alleviation Department, under Women & Child Development Ministry. A good number of slum women trained in Business Entrepreneurship participated in the exhibition. It was a great opportunity for these Self-Help Group (SHG) women to display and sell their products to earn some extra income.

Self-help groups (SHGs) are becoming a successful model for empowering the disadvantaged groups. Women members of the Self-Help Group (SHG) in Mumbai city are now well organized and are reaping the benefits of micro business. Around 17 SHGs from DBDS have come a long way since they started out as minor concern. Now, they have grown enough to exhibit their products at an expo being held in the city.

Most of the products on display were related to Sweets, Snacks, Spices, Jewellery, Clothes, Handicrafts and liquid soap etc. Sizeable amount of sale was reported by SHGs in the event which was open from 11.00 am to 9.30 pm every day. “I received a small credit from the SHG’s savings for doing business. Today I sold Indian Spices & Snacks which I had learnt to make in one of the income generation training conducted by Don Bosco Development society. Thanks to them for their support and encouragement” said Vidhya Agawane – a project beneficiary who participated in the exhibition.

Ms. Surekha Pednekar (Programme Coordinator-DBDS) and all Field Staff encouraged women to participate in this exhibition. All women from slums are learning business skills; they are focusing on improving their household income. This will have a huge impact on other dimensions of their life. Our 17 SHGs from Matunga, King’s Circle, Pratikshanagar, Antop Hill, Wadala, Dharavi and Kurla participated in the event and were very happy to be part of this exhibition . Such is the quality and pricing of the SHG products, that people from various walks of life, thronged the stalls and bought the products.