Creating livelihoods for 30 women in rural Dharwad

Rural India continues to have illiterate and economically vulnerable populations. More than 20% are unable to feed their families or educate their children. Malnutrition results in low productivity leading to lower incomes, chronic disease and higher mortality rates. Lack of literacy affects issues like infant mortality, immunisation, children’s education, women’s emancipation, access to rights, family planning as well as social evils like child marriage, dowry, bride burning, etc. In 2002, BPF developed the Market Oriented Value Enhancement (MOVE) programme to teach marginalized populations, particularly women, to run successful and sustainable small businesses to lift themselves out of poverty.

MOVE comprises 12 experiential modules which teach motivation, market orientation, general business concepts and market research. The trainees then begin small scale retailing or production, sample selling, and gradual up-scaling. After a few sales cycles, they conduct in-depth customer feedback sessions and adjust their offerings accordingly through business development plans. MOVE participants therefore choose a business only after they have adequate knowledge of the local market and have determined sufficient demand for their products or services, thus realising assured profits.

At least, 10 women trained in MOVE will start their own businesses or improve their skills and increase their incomes.

The participants will also have greater mobility and decision-making abilities.

Impact assessment of MOVE participants shows that it helps reduce financial insecurity and vulnerability linked to daily wages and agricultural income, improves quantity and quality of food, enables savings and repayment of debt, increases household assets, provides better education as well as medical care for their families.