Odisha, Jun 3 (KNN) In a novel initiative called ‘Swakalpa’ the Odisha Skill Development Authority has trained over 90 rural retail businesses in entrepreneurship, business planning and marketing.  

Swakalpa also assisted with legal compliances like Udyam Aadhar registration and facilitated a Rs. 50,000 loan under the PM MUDRA scheme. 

The Indian retail sector is a vast market dominated by small mom-and-pop stores called kirana shops. While these nano-enterprises are the backbone of the grocery retail segment, many struggle with limited resources and lack of access to training and financing opportunities.

One such success story is Mitu Nayak from Astaranga, Odisha. An 8th grade dropout and sole breadwinner for his family of seven, Mitu ran a modest grocery store grappling with basic amenities and narrow market reach until he joined Swakalpa.

Through 100 hours of mentorship, the program helped Mitu develop a robust business plan, acquire market insights, and hone essential entrepreneurial skills. Rebranding his store as "Maa Mangala Grocery Shop," he gave it a fresh new look, transforming it into a community hub.

This enabled Mitu to invest in a commercial refrigerator, expanding his product range to meet rising summer demands from customers and retailers.

"With Swakalpa's help, Mitu focused on technology adoption to improve efficiency and customer outreach. He streamlined the supply chain using HUL's Shikhar app and enabled digital payments. Digital accounting through Khatabook also boosted transparency," said Amit Patjoshi, CEO of Palladium India, Swakalpa's implementation partner.

The interventions have yielded impressive results. Over the past few months, Mitu's average monthly turnover has multiplied to Rs. 7-10 lakhs, with a projected annual turnover of Rs. 1 crore. He has hired 3 community members and plans to set up a supermarket, creating more local jobs.

His store now attracts 150-200 customers daily, serving the local community and supplying retailers in the area and dry foods/beverages to event vendors, expanding his market footprint.

The remarkable journey of Mitu and 90+ other rural entrepreneurs showcases how focused training, access to finance, and technological enablement can unlock immense growth potential for small businesses, driving grassroots economic empowerment.

(KNN Bureau)