Internship started with 10 days immersion period where field work had to be performed to understand the location dynamics, people readiness to work, requirement, problems, challenges and scope for innovation. As The location I had carried out my internship has rural tribal who worship Madhuca Indica tree which in fact are present in abundant, served as a scope for value addition.
A food processing unit producing bi-products of Madhuca Indica was decided to be established so that it could provide employment opportunity to people there, particularly women.. This is one of its kind of government aided initiative taken up in Telangana. Major aim of the project is to replenish traditional foods made from Mahua flower and provide livelihood opportunity for tribal women residing in local areas.
A team of 21 tribal women was formed after explaining about this business idea, clearing their doubts, checking their proclivity. The District Collector who is inclined to tribal women development has readily sanctioned funds for this project.
A training period of 2 days was conducted for skill building. Production has successfully started thereafter. Reporter from The Hindu newspaper have written an article regarding our initiative which has triggered our sales demand. It has worked as a strong marketing tool. Later on other newspapers such as Deccan chronicle and other local newspapers has also mentioned about us. During my internship period we have also supplied our products to marriage catering which had stood up to be our biggest sales. As a part of marketing activity food festival was also arranged that brought much awareness about our product line to visitors.
My role is Supervising production process and checking up on hygiene measures, designing a business model, estimating and mobilising the funds, suggesting marketing and sales methods
Achievements so far are taking this initiative to District Collector notice, conducted official training program for enhancing the skills of women, gathered funds for working capital, registered Adivasi women society, leased a building for production process and Planning a food festival for inauguration of products under our brand name. Our ultimate to release our food products with an authentic brand name and logo in a huge number and increase the sales to different districts, states and helping tribal women.
Experience and learnings had been great. I was able to find, observe, interact very new people, practices and processes. Challenges I faced during this process were convincing women to leave their agricultural work and contribute in production was tough as they feared decrease in their usual income but could any how able to assure them work and payment. Expenses and loans are funded and subsidised by government which is delaying the process. But all the risks and problems were manageable.
Over all this internship was an astute amalgamation of branding, marketing, operations management, human resource mobilization and rigorous research work going into single event.
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