Bastar se Baazar tak - The Story Behind

Bastar se Bazaar tak - the name has gained so popularity that it doesn't needs introduction. An innovative startup from Chhattisgarh - a densely forested state from central India which is rapidly making it's identity in the field of startup's and innovations. The social enterprise is aiming to generate employment oppurtunities for the rural women especially to poorest rural women in interior areas of southern Chhattisgarh. The enterprise is managing post harvest produce by making various processed food products after collection from forest and making arrangements for their marketing.

An Introduction to the Founders

Haresh kashyap is a progressive farmer who is a role model for his fellow farmers known for his down to earth nature and progressive practices in farming since 30 years. He is basically a self motivated learner believing in adopting various practices for experimentation. He is the main brain behind this venture and also the founder taking charge of planning and operations of the venture.

An alumni of Azim Premji University and a self inspired, goal oriented person, Satendra Singh Lilhare is the Co Founder of Bastar se Baazar tak. He has an experience of 7 years as a freelancer and possess great zeal to work with marginal farmers, poor and neglected sections of society in the remotest part of the country. He has much experience in working at grassroot level in farming and farm based products and passionate about working in this field. He is managing and executing all the operations at the venture.

Collaborations

Bastar se Bazaar tak has got seed funding from many organizations as well as collaborated with many institutions due to it's noble cause. Upaya Social venture and women on Wings are one of them. Upaya has join hands with the venture to facilitate funds for the expansion of their bussiness whereas Women on Wings has collaborated with them to create more employment opprtunities for poor and marginal women as the venture has mostly poor women workers.

The Working  

The Chhattisgarh based enterprise is working to improve the economic condition of poor forest dwellers and the tribal community by managing the post harvest losses, making of high quality forest produce and providing the same to urban people at reasonable rate. Bastar se Baazar tak is promoting the  high quality, unadulterated products made from Jamun, tamarind ,custard Apple and and make herbal gulal too. The members of the community are collecting custard apple and jamun from forest and prepare products like squash ,slice, kulfi and shots from them in their central processing unit. The products can be consumed upto 18 months from packaging. They claim that the products are free from any chemicals. They will start processing tamarind soon and make products from it.

Funding and Prizes

Bastar se Baazar tak is the winner of  Tata Social Enterprise Challenge 2020-21, a joint initiative of Tata group and Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata bagging a seed funding of Rs. 5 lakhs at Kolkata Innovation Park. Satendra Singh Lilhare has also won Chhattisgarh MSME Resilience Award 2021 given by Chattisgarh Government in the category of livelihood enterprises for his venture. The Incubation centre of Indira Gandhi krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur has also given a grant of 25 lakhs under Udbhav Yojana for the entrepreneurs working in the field of farming and related products whose products are ready to use.

The venture is not only creating employment opportunities for these poor people in the densely forested area but also making a difference in their lives. The venture is creating employment for nearly 300 women for 90 days and hope to extend these opportunities even more. the headquarter of the enterprise is situated at Lakhanpuri in East Bastar. Hats off to the entrepreneurs and their efforts capable of creating a difference in the lives of the poor people.

 

 Startup India - The shining Bastar

Those who get fueled up by innovations and entrepreneurship, Startup India is not a new name for them. But what about startups from a remote area like Bastar-Dantewada, from a small state like Chhattisgarh, revolutionizing the lives of many people at the mass level?

The story of Dennex

The story of  Dennex brand of Dantewada is a milestone in itself in a place which is known for Maoists and Naxalites. It reflects the true picture of progress of Startup India vision, full of hope and inspiration. Chhattisgarh first own brand of clothing has been introduced by setting up a garment factory in the haram village of Dantewada under the brand name Dennex means Dantewada next.

The clothes are being sewed in the factory by village women only. Once prepared , they will be sent in markets throughout the country. About 300 men and women from the village are working in the factory in two shifts.The program aims to provide employment to around 2,000 people.

In a small interview,Collector Deepak Soni told that he wish to make Dantewada, a garment hub. The employment is generated in systematic steps. In first stage training is imparted to new people.   In the second stage, the woman already expert in stitching are trained to make shirts, kurtas and masks.

Providing market

In order to provide a market to these products government has signed a MOU with many government and non-government organizations. It includes MOU for CRPF soldiers, MOU for uniform of NMDC staff and MOU with TRIFED and other garment companies.

Keeping a close eye on the response for Dennex factory in haram village of Dantewada, government aims to open new Dennex outlets at Bacheli, Dantewada and Barsoor also. There is a very inspiring atmosphere in Dantewada related to employment now a day. Apart from garments, handicraft and minor forest produce are also being manufactured here under the brand name Dennex.

Mahua processing hub of Bastar – Dantewada

Mahua, also known as honey flower or butter flower is a tropical tree of Indian origin. It is found largely in plains and forests of central and northern India. Largely found in Bastar, it is being used by tribes to make liquor.

Bastar so far known for Mahua , a flower used for making liquor,is now changing its identity. This change is brought about by Sangwari  Samooh, a  self-help group of women of Dantewada. It is a group of about 30 women which have together established Mahua processing hub in the naxal town Dantewada. They are preparing cookies, halwa, jelly, jam, chunks, Mahua  Kada ,tamarind sauce, jaggery powder and cashew powder here. The group aims to provide employment to about hundred women with increasing demand and supply.

Women associated with this group are too happy to be a part of it. The group has earned about 1.5 lacs in just one week .This innovation not only emerged as a financial support to them but boosted their self-confidence as an independent entrepreneur. The product demand is increasing day by day and helping them to improve their financial condition, giving their children a better upbringing and also spent on health issues.

 

Starts Up Of Chattisgarh

Unique Startup in Bastar - the unheard story

Ever heard of a startup investing in brooms ( jhadu) and which is generating a monthly income of 20 lakhs? The fact that these brooms are made in the most remote and geographically inaccessible area of Bastar district of Chattisgarh makes it even more interesting. Hardly a few of you may be knowing about Aboojhmaad area of Chattisgarh known for it's dense evergreen tropical forests. It is spread over 4000 square km in Chattisgarh covering Narayanpur, Bijapur and Dantewada district. It is the home to many indigenous tribes like Gond, Muria, Abujmaria and Halbaas. 

This region is rich in mineral deposits and a large amount of iron ore is being digged from Bailadila region of this area but the native people still remain isolated from the outside world. The Aboojhmaad is known for it's highly inaccessible nature with little or almost no presence of civil adminitration or government activities. 

Geographically also it is being separated by Indravati river from Bastar. In 2008, it was proposed to declare it as biosphere reserve by Government  of India: Because they these reasons, it is a major hub to naxalites  popularly known as Maoists.

 But the beauty lies somewhere else, hats off to the spirit of SDO Ashish Kotarwani who helped out the tribes in their startup by purchasing 900 quintals of jhadu from them. The story starts from Hitulwada village in the Orchha region near a river where the tribal women started their startup of making jhadu by a special kind of grass growing in this area called Tilgum in local language. Later on about hundred families this joined this small but unique venture.

 When the popularity of these jhadu increased, they were improvised even more by Mahila Swa Sahayata Samooh of Narayanpur district and the design was made even better. A MOU was signed by TRIFED to government and the product was sold countrywide especially in the capital city Delhi. A unique example of a beautiful startup from zero. Saluting the spirit and hard work of the tribals but more appreciable is the work done by government to generate employment for them and providing market to them for their welfare and living.

Another interesting Story

Yet another inspiring short story to be listen. This little state has some other significant startups also to be mentioned. Among top agricultural universities of country, stands the first agriculture university of Chattisgarh named Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya(IGKV).  The university has an incubation centre called "Raftaar Agribusiness Incubator" in which two startup programs namely Udbhav and Abhinav are run  in which selected startups are given chance to showcase there talent. The centre first provides training to the selected entrepreneurs for two months and then their plan is kept for proposal in front of central incubation committee. 

One can wonder how a fabric can be made through khas, a type of grass used in making cooling pads in room coolers  in summer. Ravikant Soni and Namrata Diwakar are two such people which are working on a project to make fabric from khas. 

As khas is popular for it's natural cooling property, the curtains made from it will be cooling the houses and lowering the room temperature during summer time. It will have its natural aroma and at the same time eco-friendly also. At present the thickness of the fabric is 3-5 mm which is to be furthur reduced. After preparing prototype, getting raw material for making fabric and making a machine for it was challenging as well. The plan also proposes making clothes from Khas. An awesome ecofriendly approach!