The district administration of Sonepur in Odisha is actively encouraging local women SHGs to start their own businesses. The idea is to help these women become self-reliant. The initiative is in line with Odisha government’s ‘Mission Shakti’ programme for achieving women’s empowerment.
Taking advantage of this initiative, few women SHGs of the district got together to open a cafeteria at the beautiful Mahanadi riverfront in Mundoghat Gram Panchayat. With the Collector’s help, they opened it and are doing brisk business. Within three months of opening, they have already earned a profit of about Rs. 60,000.
This venture has also succeeded in breaking a social norm of the area, whereby husbands do not allow their wives to serve food to other people. Indian Masterminds spoke to District Collector Sonepur, Ms. Aboli Sunil Naravane, to know about this women-run cafeteria in detail.
STARTING A CAFETARIA
District Collector Aboli Sunil Naravane said, “Under Mission Shakti, we have various SHG federations, and among them, the women SHGs of Mundoghat gram panchayat had an idea of starting a cafeteria. When anyone enters the district, they are mesmerised by the Mahanadi riverfront where we were developing a park. At the same time, these women SHGs also shared their interest in starting a cafeteria at the same location.”
The district administration took this initiative forward, pooled in funds from MGNREGA and Western Odisha Development Council to build this cafeteria. Ms. Naravane informed, “These women SHG federation in Mundoghat sought a loan of 1-2 lakhs from the block level SHG federation as working capital.”
The cafeteria was launched by Minister Planning & Convergence, Commerce & Transport, Odisha, Padmanabha Behara and Minister of Finance and Excise, Niranjan Pujari, on 25 December 2021.
BENEFITS
The cafeteria is being operated by four women SHGs of Mundoghat gram panchayat, where snacks and beverages like tea, coffee, sandwich, samosa, biscuits etc., are being sold. In just three months of operating this business, these women have already made a profit of fifty to sixty thousand rupees.
Ms. Naravane said, “Despite selling only snacks, these women are making a huge profit. The main factor is the location of the cafeteria, as it is on a highway and it not only attracts the local populace but non-Odias as well, who are visiting the place. Apart from this, this is the first decent café in the district where people can have a cup of coffee with their friends and family.”
It has been noticed that women are frequenting the cafeteria, which is unusual for a district like Sonepur. Moreover, this initiative is also breaking a social norm where the husbands do not allow their wives to serve food to other people. Once the District Collector got to know about it, a counselling session was conducted wherein all these issues were sorted out. And with the opening of the cafeteria, such redundant social norms have been relegated to the background. A welcome change, indeed.
