To cook and eke out.. (Subhodaya Mahila Sangham, Gudivada, Krishna Dt.) Updated On 26/Feb/2021
They may be widowed at personal level, but their iron will is not widowed. Three of the six members engaged in food/snack business of the Subhodaya Mahila Sangham (SHG) lost their husbands and, with them a major source of family’s livelihood. Most of the poor and lower middle class families require both partners to work in order to make both ends meet. This delicate and fragile economic routine gets easily disturbed when one partner dies. Intervention of MEPMA into the hard realities of life of suffering wom
Read More
Rolling snacks gather much cash (Sai SHG, Narasaraopet, Guntur Dt.) Updated On 08/Feb/2021
The story of Sai SHG located in Shalim Nagar of Narasaraopet town arouses curiosity among the readers for a few important reasons: at the outset, the nature of snacks (called Samosa) catches our attention. Samosa is the only snack made and sold at this outlet. Secondly, the growing business is solely owned and managed exclusively by Muslim women from the locality and it is not a common instance wherein we find Muslim women joining a social group and successfully running a business in urban poor lo
Read More
Dispensary Economics (Sri Laxmi SHG, Narasaraopet, Guntur Dt.) Updated On 02/Feb/2021
The income generation activity undertaken by members of Sri Laxmi SHG in Narasaraopet town is one that is inherited by most women in a traditional society like India. It is the culinary art. Coolies (daily wagers) to culinary routines is the story of majority of the members in the group today. Many of them earlier worked as cooks and servers (on daily wages) in local canteens/small roadside hotels. Some of them post seven years of experience while some others claim 5 years of experienc
Read More
Pittance to Plenty & Jars to Containers (Dintakurti A.M. Padmaja, Teja SHG, Machilipatnam, Krishna Dt.) Updated On 20/Jan/2021
Culinary traditions differ from region to region and, a set of particular cuisines hints us on the eating habits of a particular populace in a particular province. Telugu-speaking areas are traditionally known for eating hot and spicy pickles made of mango, tomato, ginger and hibiscus leaves. Like the core engineering sciences, these Telugu-land pickles are in demand for ever. It is rather a cultural delicacy and those who eat pickles with a fascination consider themselves as connoisseurs of the art of eating in Telugu-speakin
Read More
“Jagananna Mahila Mart” to promote sustainable livelihoods of SHGs Updated On 19/Jan/2021
To uplift the economic standards of SHG Women promoting sustainable livelihoods, JAGANANNA MAHILA MART(a Mart run by women members of City/Town Level Federation under MEPMA AP) was inaugurated by the Hon'ble MP Sri YS Avinash Reddy, Respected Mission Director MEPMA Smt. V.Vijaya Lakshmi on 03.01.2021 at Pulivendhula ULB. Project Director MEPMA, Staff and SHG women attended the said program. This is wholly maintained by the women members of City/Town Level Federation and monitored by MEPMA where, everyone can
Read More
Fabricating the layers of life (Kondeti Dhanalaxmi, Prabhu SHG Group, Gudivada, Krishna Dt.) Updated On 18/Dec/2020
‘Mobility to stability’ characterizes the life’s journey as on date for Kondeti Dhanalaxmi. The 40 year old woman dropped out of education after failing to clear class X examination. Her parents, whose exacting domestic lifestyles and grudging means of income could not provide more than what was required for hand-to-mouth existence, married off their daughter in 1981 at a young age. Performing marriage was a sigh of relief for her parents from unavoidable expenditures. But, for Dhanala
Read More
Leaves and grains: Care and concern (Merla Neelima, Ambika SHG, Kakinada, E. Godavari Dt.) Updated On 07/Dec/2020
That the nature, content and membership patterns of poor and semi-literate women groups in Andhra Pradesh have undergone critical shifts in the recent period is attested by expanding base of SHGs recruiting educated women too into their fold. The outcomes and influence of SHGs have been deeply impactful and, the fallout is educated women are taking initiatives to form SHGs and be a part of the social networking units promoted by government. The story of Merla Neelima of Ambika SHG, Kakinada town tells the unfolding and influential canv
Read More
Knowledge practice and coverage (Karuna SHG, Kakinada, East Godavari Dt.) Updated On 04/Dec/2020
Tradition-influenced trade in cane/bamboo furniture (bamboo-based manufacturing activity) looks afresh for most of the members in the local SHG in the recent times. Exposure to MEPMA’s intensive urban drives into livelihoods programme have trained most of these women who, otherwise subservient to descendant domestic customs, have become bold, enterprising and socialising in their nature and world views. Knowledge, practice and coverage are what the members of Karuna SHG, Kakinada boast of today in the realm of their tradition
Read More
Mushrooming Efforts (K Subba Rao, Bangla Thota & G Vinay Kumar Reddy, Nellore Town) Updated On 03/Dec/2020
The act is different. The activity is off-beat and different. The two youngsters involved in the act and activity are different. Their courage is different. On the whole, these two young people are different from others and differently-abled in shouldering a task which others would have hesitated to undertake on a regular scale. It is true… both the young people come under the category of differently-abled (Divyangas). Yet, their indomitable spirit in fac
Read More
Imitated Routines (Sameera SHG, Machilipatnam, Krishna Dt.) Updated On 30/Nov/2020
Imitation is a process through which people ape the dominant trends, be it fashion or other emerging trends in society. There is a popular saying in Andhra Pradesh (the undivided state emphasised) that Machilipatnam imitates and the rest follows. The district headquarters of Machilipatnam has been famous for the manufacture of imitation jewelry or rolled-gold ornaments or ornaments made of Chilakalapudi Gold. These gold-coated or gold-coloured ornaments have been in great demand. Performing art
Read More
Exhibiting to the core(Ch. Madhavi, Sai Ram SHG, Guntur) Updated On 23/Nov/2020
One major event in the life of a person may turn the wheel upside down and puts the person in doldrums. Everything was rosy for a long time in the life of Ch. Madhavi of Sai Ram SHG after her marriage. Being the daughter of a master weaver and married into a business family dealing in cloth, the ascent of sap for Madhavi in the field of cloth business was both logical and natural. Both she and her husband are modestly educated and their modest education never halted them from business avocation. Everything was going smooth. The couple
Read More
Life is green now (B. Venkata Ramana, Sambasiva SHG, Guntur) Updated On 17/Nov/2020
Nature is a perennial bounty for all those who protect and use it with care. Business in nature’s products (plants and saplings) too gets perennial in nature in the hands of B. Venkata Ramana of Guntur town. She runs a plant nursery alongside the main road near collector’s office. Business in plants is inter-generational in nature for her. Venkata Ramana’s father deserted family when she was just three year old. Untimely desertion by her father resulted in a compulsion for her mother. Having no im
Read More
Rolling snacks gather much cash (Sai SHG, Narasaraopet, Guntur Dt.) Updated On 16/Nov/2020
The story of Sai SHG located in Shalim Nagar of Narasaraopet town arouses curiosity among the readers for a few important reasons: at the outset, the nature of snacks (called Samosa) catches our attention. Samosa is the only snack made and sold at this outlet. Secondly, the growing business is solely owned and managed exclusively by Muslim women from the locality and it is not a common instance wherein we find Muslim women joining a social group and successfully running a business in urban poor locality. Thirdly, t
Read More
Trading in tradition (Sk. Shamsunnisa, Fatima SHG, Guntur, Guntur Dt.) Updated On 13/Nov/2020
Tradition-based and inherited remedies often provide scope for alluring business for people. There are umpteen numbers of examples to corroborate the existence of traditional remedies dealing with issues of illness and general health matters in our society. Sk. Shamsunnisa of Fatima SHG in Guntur town excels in her business initiative that promotes and profiles a millet/grain mixture under the name Jeeva Arogya. It is curative as well as preventive, according to her. She is dominated by abundant confidence in sayin
Read More
Small is satisfying (Dikshita SHG, Ongole, Prakasam Dt.) Updated On 09/Nov/2020
Efficacy of any social advocacy programme and poverty alleviation drive is best measured not in terms of quantum sources pumped in, but in terms of impacting the most unassuming and faceless numbers of commoners in society towards important productive variables (personal, social and economic) in the given human habitat. MEPMA can be credited with the recurring element of social efficacy and interventional programme veracity in recent times as truly reflected by Dikshita SHG of Ongole town. This estimate is not infl
Read More
Readymade garments turn the tide (Siri SHG, Yemmiganur) Updated On 02/Nov/2020
Thirty-eight year old Machani Chandrakala of Mallari Street in Yemmiganur Municipality of Kurnool district has learnt the ups and downs of business in a bitter way. Starting saree business with a modest investment of Rs. 50,000 in 2001, Chandrakala was making good money. But, acquaintances and other relatives began to buy sarees on credit. The arrears piled up and it became very difficult for her to recover the dues. “The hesitation on my part to ask for the money as they were all my relatives and friends made my job tough. I
Read More
PMSVANidhi aided to restart my Bussiness - V. Narayana, Street Vendor, Pamidi ULB, Anantapur District Updated On 21/Oct/2020
My name is Vankamadi Narayana working as street vendor in semi urban/urban limits selling Fruits. My family members has to lead in this livelihood. During lockdown whatever little saving I have spent for my household purpose. It is very worst situation that I couldn't go out and no finance is there with me to restart my livelihood of vending and it is very tough time. Under PM Svanidhi I got Rs. 10000 /- as micro credit loan from Andhra bank Pamidi. This financial aid really boasted my self-confidence to restart m
Read More
Her experiments with herbs Updated On 20/Oct/2020
G. Gayatri (38), a seasoned member of Sri Dattatreya Mahila Sangham, Bala Sai Nagar, Chirala had a fair idea of operational aspects of self-help groups even during her student days. Rural development was an optional paper for her when she was doing her post graduate study in Economics. After getting married in 2005 to Satyanarayana she moved to Chirala town and started her life as a housewife. She has two small kids, both boys (9 years and 4 years old) studying in local private schools. Bala Sai SHG was formed with 10 members
Read More
Rolling in satisfaction (Kirtana SHG, Ongole, Prakasam District) Updated On 19/Oct/2020
Designing, printing and sari-rolling are the main features of the firm owned by four members of Kirtana SHG in Ongole town. Concept of self -help came naturally to all these women without being counseled on the same. For, mothers of all these young lady entrepreneurs were earlier members of local self-help groups promoted by government of Andhra Pradesh. One peculiar, rather unique feature of the members of this group has been the inherited custom and practice wherein admission into women groups for them was more sequential
Read More
Tasty snacks bring sowbhagya Updated On 15/Oct/2020
It’s perfect combination of daughter-in-law and mother-in-law combine that is making waves in parts of Kadapa district with their tasty snacks. Kondapuram Sowbhagya and Subhadramma, members of the Renuka Self Help Group in Ramanjaneyapuram in Electrician Colony of Kadapa Municipal Corporation are earning decent profits with their mouth-watering snacks made at a very economical price. Little education is not a hindrance for this duo as they firmly believed in their hard work. In a makeshift tinned shed, the work starts early m
Read More
B.Akkamma, Anantapuram ULB. Anantapur District. Updated On 13/Oct/2020
Government’s financial aid through YSR Cheyutha Scheme has aided me in distress times. MEPMA officials supported me by lending a loan of amount Rs. 50,000/- from Eswar Allah SLF at low interest rate along with YSR Cheyutha benefit of Rs.18,750/-. Total amount was invested in starting own Retail store and using the profit on household expenditure. I feel very happy. We will remember the favor of Hon’ble CM throughout our lives.
Read More
P.Chinnamma, Gudivada ULB. Krishna District. Updated On 12/Oct/2020
To aid the women, our CM has been implementing many scheme one of such is YSR Cheyutha. An amount of Rs.18,750/- credited directly to my personal savings account. Along with that amount, an amount of Rs.50,000/- was loaned by the support of MEPMA officials to start retail store. Today I’m tension free financially and taking care of the entire family burden. I express my gratitude to Hon’ble CM for implementing women empowerment Schemes fighting all the odds.
Read More
Ghousunnisa, Yerramukkapalli ULB, Kadapa District. Updated On 11/Oct/2020
I’m a member of Umar Self Help Group. Under YSR Cheyutha Scheme, an amount of Rs.18,750/- has been credited to my personal bank account. Also federation loaned me an amount of Rs.50,000/- with which I have started a retail store selling the products of ITC and HUL brands. Including marginal discounts on brands through direct dealership and excluding everyday expenses, today I’m earning a profit of Rs.1000/- on selling indent worth Rs.5000/-. This financial assistance from Hon&a
Read More
P.Ramija Bi, Kurnool ULB. Kurnool District(YSR Cheyutha) Updated On 07/Oct/2020
I’m a member of Royaldoma SHG. I got benefitted under YSR Cheyutha Scheme. Along with that amount, Rs.75,000/- was sanctioned with the support of MEPMA officials. Investing the total amount, I have set up a retail store in our locality. I sale products related to ITC, HUL brands. This resulted in gaining marginal profit of 15-20% on products as I became direct dealer. I’m earning daily profit of Rs.400-500/-. Today I’m self - reliant only because of our hon’
Read More
Toiling through oil Sabira Khans retailing business (Sabira Khan, Kavali, Nellore Dt.) Updated On 05/Oct/2020
She represents the changing face of ordinary Muslim women in society today. Sabira Khan, 32 years old has successfully broken the traditional barriers in undertaking a public routine along with her husband Shafi Khan which other Muslim women of her age would hesitate to get involved in. She runs a small retail oil outlet in one of the crowded and frequented streets of Kavali town. In doing so, she is efficient, brave and unassuming. The silver lining in her story is the domestic support received by her and no objections raised from loc
Read More
Apple Mushroom Unit (B. Ramadevi, Maheswari SHG, Chirala, Prakasam District) Updated On 29/Sep/2020
B. Ramadevi was married to Srinivasa Rao in 1991 when the family condition on both the sides was not rosy. Father-in-law bequeathed a small house site and a tiny hut-like structure was built by the newly married couple on the land to begin a new life at Chirala. Ramadevi’s husband was a private employee earning not much to sustain family in a satisfactory way. She then decided to support her husband and earn something through an errand known to her. She tried her hands at making pickles and supplying chilli powder. Since Telu
Read More
Laxmis life is bitter … Her make is sweet (Laxmi Vimala, Sri Sai SHG, Palakollu, W. Godavari Dt.) Updated On 28/Sep/2020
Laxmi Vimala’s life is bitter and sour. Her stress-ridden personal life repels others. But her business product is sweet. It attracts others in scores and droves. She has two different shades of life that are tangentially opposite. After the birth three kids (one boy and two girls), Vimala’s husband deserted her leaving children and his wife to fate and social sympathy. Vimala hates even a mention of him in her life. When the desertion happened, Vimala’s father came out with an unconventional assertion. Be
Read More
Cashew and Cash as a Crop (Lata SHG, Chirala, Prakasam Dt.) Updated On 25/Sep/2020
Cashew is a major cash crop in the coastal regions of the country. Chirala on the Coromandel Coast (Bay of Bengal) has unfolded another interesting angle to the otherwise a normal and ordinary episode. For the members of Lata Mahila Sangham (SHG) at Chirala cash is flowing into their vaults like a bumper crop. And MEPMA and cashew are responsible for this. The SHG was formed when MEPMA started functioning in the state of Andhra Pradesh. All the ten members of the group, M/s B. Mariyamma, G. Subbamma,A. Varalaxmi, P. Siva Kumari, B. Ram
Read More
All in one: Members, Managers Workers and Beneficiaries (Om Siva Sai SHG, Geetha Bhavanam Road, Gudivada, Krishna Dt.) Updated On 24/Sep/2020
Members of the Om Siva Sai Group joined together to conduct their wholesale business through a grocery shop. All the members (they are now 10 in the group) earlier worked in a small food production unit floated by a local woman who later became a member and leader of the group. They are all drawn from backward class category. When MEPMA inaugurated its activities in the local municipal town all these women had taken a wise decision to form a group among themselves. They thus metamorphosed into a self-help group without changing the con
Read More
Muddy Deals & ‘Mother Goddess’ (Ambati Dhanalaxmi, Salivahana SHG) Updated On 23/Sep/2020
With dexterity, devotion and passion at command, the 40-year old Ambati Dhanalaxmi makes Gods, Goddesses and Divine Pariwar (family). In doing so, she is proverbially eco-friendly and follows in the footsteps of the Lord Brahma of the Hindu pantheon of Gods. She uses pure mud in making most of the divine figures and figurines. For Dhanalaxmi, manufacture and sale of divine figures form part of essential livelihood routines. For the traditional Lord Brahma creation of mud figures is reported to be a part o
Read More
Shining to glory with dish cleaning powder (Taslima SHG, Kurnool) Updated On 22/Sep/2020
A group of Muslim Self Help Group members are shining to glory with their impressive product. People might wonder what these women’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is. Yes, indeed Rubina cleaning powder is the product these poor women manufacture in a small dingy house in the slums of Azimuddin Nagar under Kurnool Municipal Corporation that has caught the attention of the poor women. Fifty-year-old Akthar Bee, a low profile homemaker, never ever dreamt that one day her small but bustling enterprise would make her famous. Co
Read More
From migrant labourer to successful entrepreneur Updated On 21/Sep/2020
When Bandaru Dhanalaxmi, hailing from Tanuku in West Godavari district migrated to Kurnool along with her three sons to join husband, she never dreamt that the life would be so difficult. Dhanalaxmi, unable to make both ends meet in her village decided to come and stay with her husband, who used to make pickles on a small scale and sell in the rural areas of Kurnool district. “I used to help my husband in preparing pickles, which he used to take on bicycle and visit far flung areas like Banganapalli and Betamcharla and other
Read More
From trainer to owner Leather manufacturing unit Updated On 16/Sep/2020
When Kakollu Venkata Nagakanyaka, 51 year old woman from Gudivada in Krishna district came to Kurnool two decades to work in an NGO that trained women in tailoring, little did she know that one-day she would turn into an entrepreneur. Sudden closure of the voluntary organisation that ran the training centre for women in Kurnool and her subsequent decision to chart an independent course saw her becoming an independent entrepreneur. Mrs. Nagakanyaka initially trained in Vidyavanam Public Trust in Pamarru in tailoring worked there for som
Read More
Leading the way with Banjara work Updated On 09/Sep/2020
Smt Y. Madhavi of Sri Mahalaxmi Podupu Sangham stands out for her beautiful Banjara cloth work. The beautiful bags, dewan and sofa sets, wall hangings, fridge covers all designed by herself is a regular fixture at most of the exhibitions in the two Telugu speaking states. She manages her house chores and work equally. Madhavi helped by her husband participates in almost all the exhibitions where they display the Banjara cloth work. The finished products start from Rs. 50 for a purse to Rs. 2000 for the bed spread or a sofa cover. The d
Read More
Saga of sports woman turned entrepreneur Updated On 07/Sep/2020
It has been a sweet saga for 39-year-old Pebbeti Hemalatha, proud owner of successful snacks manufacturing unit in Yemmiganur Town of Kurnool district. “I wanted to become a police officer as I was a very good volleyball player and won gold medal in the game,” Mrs. Hemalatha says recalling her dream initially and how her marriage to Pebbeti Srinivas Reddy, a realtor in the Town changed her course of life in 2007. “From the ambition of becoming a cop, I today spend my time in supervising my workers, who dis
Read More
Showcasing the talent in candle-making Updated On 04/Sep/2020
Surely the poor women of Pratibha Self Help Group lead by Mrs. Padmavathi in Bangarpet in Kurnool Municipal Corporation are showcasing their talent through designer candles. Sheer hard work and a firm belief that women cannot confine themselves to the household chores has yielded good dividend for the Pratibha SHG formed with 10 members. After saving some money through the thrift activity, the members decided to scout for some employment opportunity when they were apprised about the potential of making candles including designed and sc
Read More
Bracing ahead with laces Updated On 03/Sep/2020
Role of fate for the young B Kavitha (38 years) of Palakollu town has been devastating and played havoc with her life within a short period after marriage. Her Husband met with a road accident in 2009 and his legs and hands were severely injured. He was made unfit for ordinary routines of life for many years. He decided to cap his business due to his near immobile condition. Coincidentally Kavitha joined the local SHG truly compensated for her personal loss. The craft she learnt came to her rescue after her husband’s mishap.
Read More
From scrap to Marvel designs Updated On 01/Sep/2020
She is Sk.Kathumbee, leader of Kathumbi Self Help Group from Kanigiri. To explain things in her life, we should say before and after joining the Self Help Group. Before joining the SHG, she is entangled in the financial crisis. Somedays there is don't even the food to eat. But these situations never let her down infact made her stronger enough to face anything in life.Those hardships developed a zeal in her to become not only self reliant but also create livelihood to many other women like her as well. Through acquain
Read More
Case study on PMSVANidhi(in the words of Beneficiary) Updated On 31/Aug/2020
Situation before the intervention:
My name is G Rangamma working as street vendor in semi urban/urban limits selling Vegetables and Fruits .My family members has to lead in this livelihood .During lockdown whatever little savings I have spent to run household. It is very worst situation that I couldn't go out and no finance is there with me to restart my livelihood of vending and it is very tough time.
<
Read More
Weaving Silk Sarees Updated On 28/Aug/2020
First in this category of talented team are members of Bapuji Self Help Group in Chowdeshwari Nagar, whose intricate designs and sheer labour ensure that attractive silk sarees are woven day after day. With eight looms installed into two separate houses, it is a busy day for S. Eashwaramma and P. Ashwini, who have been weaving intricate silk sarees on demand. It takes five days to make one saree.
The work is hard but they do not know anything else, hence this became their source of bread and butter. They
Read More
Melodious Business and Profitable Strings Updated On 27/Aug/2020
Bobbili is highly reputed for manufacture of the Indian (Carnatic) musical instrument, Veena (a string instrument). Sai Ganapati SHG with 13 members is involved in the manufacture and supply of musical instrument, Veena. Out of thirteen in the group, four are seen in the activity: M/s G. Rajani, G. Ramu, S. Thoudamma and S. Aruna. All of these four are related and Rajani’s husband acts as the master technician in the process. These women are playing their personal and professional role exceptionally well.
Read More
See change through sea shells Updated On 26/Aug/2020
Hemalatha and Ramadevi, members of Pragathi Self Help Group in Visakhapatnam hailing from poor backward class families took a bold step in 2013 – 14 to establish their own business unit dealing in sea shells after working for couple of years as daily wagers in the firm making toys and decorative items using seas shells.
When Hemalata and Ramadevi decided to do it separate, four other members in the SHG expressed willingness to join. It was a daring decision at that juncture as neighbors in the seaside vi
Read More
Bring light in the darkness to poor families Updated On 25/Aug/2020
For the group of poor Muslim women in Kothapeta in Kurnool Municipal Corporation it is dream come true. For them backbreaking work was fetching a paltry sum and illiteracy among them always turned out to be the main hurdle for development. A ray of hope came in the form of SHGs and with encouragement of MEPMA, ten Muslim women joined the thrift movement to form Roshan Self Help Group opting Hairoon as group Leader.
Taking into consideration the fact that these women would not easily venture out
Read More
Stir up the Zeal Updated On 01/Sep/2020
M.Lakshmi, hailing from Tirupathi is a member of Gajalakshmi Self Help Group since a decade proved that a strong zeal and zest is enough to create an identity for herself and improve the economic background of her family. At the time of joining SHG, her family was in financial crisis as only earner in the family is her husband who was alcohol addict. It became hassle task to adjust all the expenditure of the family with meagre income. So she took the right decision of joining joined self help groups with the 10 other members in her nei
Read More
Crystal creatives amplifying living standards Updated On 21/Aug/2020
Everyone will have a desire to achieve something in their life. But to transform desires into reality we should get ready to face the financial troubles and the family responsibilities. SD Nigar, member of Subhanallah Self Help Group have faced many Ups and downs before joining the SHG. To aid her husband, She nurtured her creative skills and made something innovatively. She thus started making crystal handbags and got appraisal from the neighbours which gave her boosting to develop it into unit and make it a way to earn an i
Read More
Dream big, Work for it Updated On 20/Aug/2020
Having big dream isn’t a problem. But we have to set our focus and work hard enough towards it to achieve that dream. Naga Lakshmi, a member of Shajahan Self Help Group had a big dream of establishing her own production unit of Bags on large scale while watching her mother in law making small purses and wallets at home. Prior setting up unit, she nurtured her skills through Technical training organized by MEPMA at Vijayawada and then established “SS Bags”, a large scale bags production unit with
Read More
Being creative is a way of life Updated On 19/Aug/2020
Life is what happens to us while we are making plans. Srithi, a post graduate in MBA who was working for private bank thought of escalating her career graph swiftly. Her plans failed miserably by sudden demise of her father. In order to aid her mother, she quit the job and took family responsibilities on her shoulders. She paved her own path to be financially independent by making her hobby of handicrafts work learnt in schooling days a way of life. She barely managed to earn money by making of home decoratives and door hangings initia
Read More
Own a page in the History Updated On 18/Aug/2020
Have you ever heard about Chilakalapudi? It’s a place near Machilipatnam that’s famous for Imitation and gold covering Jewelry works which has a history of 130 years. Naga Jyothi of Maruthi Self Help Group, a native of this place is always thought to have a page of history on her name and made it possible. She is not an imitation Gold rather a diamond. She mended every opportunity that come her way to expand her traditional jewelry making occupation into a business. Joining Self Help Group worked as a boon to set up
Read More
Dust off your Destiny Updated On 17/Aug/2020
Where we come from is not in our hands but where we are going to be is definitely in our hands. Krishnaveni, a member of Satyavedha Podupu Lakshmi Self Help Group belonged to poor Socio -Economic background, she dusted off her poor destiny and redefined it richly by setting up a Production unit of Doormats and Saree falls making in Kurnool. She fought against all hardships and setbacks to be what she was today. Its all started fifteen years back, when she was making saree falls at home and selling them to house nearby neighbors.
Read More
JOURNEY OF THOUSAND MILES STARTS WITH SINGLE STEP Updated On 14/Aug/2020
One should start a journey of thousand miles with a single step. Ayyamma, a member of Lakshmi Self Help Group started her journey from home cooking to owning a millet store “Annapurna Foods” in Kurnool. She is an active member in the SHG and attended the Entrepreneurship Development Programs, training and various awareness programs organized by MEPMA. During one of the awareness programs on health and Nutrition, She got to know about Nutrition deficiency prevailed, importance of healthy food intake and thought to wo
Read More
Keep your spirit high Updated On 13/Aug/2020
“Difficult roads often leads to beautiful destinations “ quote suits aptly for our SHG women entrepreneur L. Vani of Divya Self Help Group in Machilipatnam who became a pro in the production of Jute Bags bang on with latest trends. Either while young or adult, she kept her spirit high even though facing many difficulties socially being a women and economically being elder one in the family among three siblings, by sacrificing her education after intermediate. ( She stays in Machilipatnam after marriage whereas after
Read More
restart my livilihood of vending Updated On 13/Aug/2020
Situation before the intervention: My name is shaik jaheer working as streetvendor in semiurban/urban limits selling cosmatics and fancy items. My family members has to lead in this livilihood. During lockdown whatever little saving I have spent for my household purpose. It is very worst situation that I couldn't go out and no finance with me to restart my livilihood of vending and it is very tuff ti
Read More
Team Work and collaboration made us self-reliant - Bramarambha Jute bags Production Centre, Kurnool Updated On 11/Feb/2020
Under NULM, MEPMA at State Level has been implementing various poverty alleviation schemes through Women Empowerment. Urban poor are becoming Self Reliant through formulating them into SHGs & Federations providing livelihood opportunities and financial assistance.
The production centre located at Kurnool ULB is setting an example of Sustainable livelihood activity. It’s been a Community
Read More
One Step Ahead One Rupee More Updated On 21/Feb/2019
Future is in our bags and we try to bag our future through their manufacture, declare members of Sri Vani SHG located in Pernamitta area of Ongole town. Six members of the SHG (out of ten) joined hands to conduct business dealing in jute bags. Though their group was formed some time ago it was ultimately merged with MEPMA groups in the year 2012 when Ongole town was made a municipal corporation. It became highly proactive during the last couple of years (2015-16). All the six in the group: S. Sridevi, M. Anjamma, N. Praveena, N. Vijayalaxmi,
Read More
Rewinding his own destiny Updated On 21/Feb/2019
In letter and spirit he is differently-abled. When one of the bodily abilities was snatched away, he began treading a weary path without cursing his fate. The tone and tenor of his journey underwent a calculated change duly nourished by his will to succeed in life. For the polio-affected Ch. Suresh life’s journey has not been smooth initially. Both his legs are paralysed duo to polio whereas his will and zeal are not at all paralysed. Nor they exhibit any signs of sluggishness today. Rather the enthusiasm of Suresh ideally matches the
Read More
All that glitters is aluminum Updated On 15/Oct/2020
Decade and a half ago V. Vijayalaxmi’s domestic condition was anything than satisfactory. The discouraging domestic economy was precipitated by a personal melancholy: her husband met with an accident and his hand was completely paralysed. Before the accident he used to run a small aluminum manufacturing unit and sales counter which used to take care of family’s needs, reflective almost of a bare sustenance level. After the accident, Vijayalaxmi became a right hand for her husband and family in letter, spirit and pra
Read More
Knitting their way to success Updated On 07/Aug/2020
Suji Ladies Tailoring and Readymade Garments (owned by five members of Venkateswara SHG, Sneha Nagar, Vanam Thopu Centre) is a unit of upcoming women entrepreneurs of Nellore town and truly reflects the changing operational modes of small business firms or kiosks under the leadership of Nara Chandrababu Naidu in the recent years. The shift in the routines has been richly nurtured by MEPMA in promoting more and more number of women in the state of Andhra Pradesh towards taking cudgels to run business and line pockets with satisfactory p
Read More
Mushrooming Efforts Updated On 11/Oct/2019
pThe act is different. The activity is offbeat and different. The two youngsters involved in the act and activity are different. Their courage is different. On the whole, these two young people are different from others and differentlyabled in shouldering a task which others would have hesitated to undertake on a regular scale. It is trueâ&euro¦ both the young people come under the category of differentlyabled (Divyangas)./ppYet, their indomitable spirit in facing the realities of life is amazing and, at once it is emulating in natur
Read More
Toiling through oil Sabira Khans retailing business Updated On 07/Aug/2020
(Sabira Khan, Trunk Road, Near BPS Centre, Kavali, Nellore Dt.)
She represents the changing face of ordinary Muslim women in society today. Sabira Khan, 32 years old has successfully broken the traditional barriers in undertaking a public routine along with her husband Shafi Khan which other Muslim women of her age would hesitate to get involved in. She runs a small retail oil outlet in one of the crowded and frequented streets of Kavali town. In doing so, she is efficient, brave and unassuming. The silver lining
Read More
Child-centred Business Updated On 07/Aug/2020
(B. Ratnamma, Venkateswara SHG, Bangla Thota / Stonehouse Peta, Nellore Town)
Child is always a centre of attraction for all. Kids attract our attention for their innocence, spotless behaviour and frank dispositions in whatever they do. On the other, kids are fond of play and edibles. It is this character of small children that helped Ratnamma and her husband make substantial business out of toys and eatables for the last many years. Ratnamma deals in items of kids’ choice: kites, st
Read More
Trading in traditional routines: The Bamboo experience Updated On 07/Aug/2020
(K. Nagalaxmi, Sri Sai SHG, Medara Bazar, Kavali, Nellore Dt.)
K. Nagalaxmi, 42 years of Medara Bazar, Kavali conducts her business in bamboo. She is an active member and leader of Sri Sai Podupu Laxmi Group (SHG) and hers is a story about managing a traditional business activity in handcrafted artifacts duly supported by MEPMA in the recent past (2015-16). Promotion of inherited and sustainable domestic economic activities by the agency is visibly reflected in the selection of customary practices undertaken by wo
Read More
Women are Busier Than Men Updated On 07/Aug/2020
(Srinivasa SHG, NGO Colony, B V Nagar, Nellore Town)
The story of Srinivasa Podupu Laxmi Group (SHG) promoted and strengthened under the overall and pervasive influence of MEPMA during 2014-16 in Nellore town is reflective of the method how the women groups have broken the gamut, that of a business routine which hitherto has been considered the male bastion. The way members of the SHG conduct their business in cloth, tailoring and imitation jewelry, and the way they contracted business through bulk orders from loc
Read More
Quartet in the act of cleaning Updated On 07/Aug/2020
It is a foursome act. It is all about cleaning. Four members of the Bhamini SHG at Nellore (M/s N. Sarala Kumari, S. Praveena, D. Showramma and N. Raghavamma) have found a common cause and business in the manufacture and sale of what they call essential domestic liquids. Â These include: detergent, dish wash and hand wash liquids; dish wash and detergent powders; floor cleaner. Bhamini SHG was formed with ten members. The group was sanctioned four loans over a period of last few years (5.5 lakh rupees). The foregoing
Read More
Business with a divine face Updated On 21/Jan/2020
The traditional culinary art of women has reached its pinnacle of glory and a level of divinity at Kavali in terms of versatility and longevity. Four members of the Balaji SHG in the 9th Ward of Kavali Municipality set a new record in their business and contract agreements. M/s Sujatha, Manjula, Tarangini and Bharathi carved a niche for themselves representing the Anusha Canteen, a catering agency established by them a few years ago. Two years earlier to the establishment of the Canteen all of them joined Balaji SHG acting at the behes
Read More