La' Saga, IGASA

The Santimayee Self-Help Group was formed with 16 members on the 3rd of September, 2006, with an inspiration of a field organizer of NIRR (an NGO), under the Tumusingia VSS of G. Udaygiri FMU of Phulbani DMU. Under the active leadership of Kumuna Pradhan and Bisarja Pradhan, the president & Secretary respectively, the group was involved in trade of tamarind, turmeric, and other agricultural products. The SHG was popular for BASMATI rice as its signature product in ADIBASI MELA in the State capital since 2009. The Group wished to generate similar demand for their local products in the ADIBASI MELA in Bhubaneswar.

Santimayee SHG was categorized as a NEW IGA SHG, after IGASA’s intervention after expressing its interest during discussions. Along with financial support (RF of VSS) and operational arrangement support for participate in the event, IGASA helped the group to prepare Business Development Plan & Rs. 12000.00 was sanctioned by the VSS as revolving fund out of their total budget of 34000.. With technical guidance from IGASA the group collected 4 quintals of BASAMATI, 4 quintals of RICE, 2 quintals of LOCAL PATATO & quintals of TURMERIC-2 l, and cleaned, graded, powdered, packaged, leveled and branded the products for sale in the MELA.  IGASA also supported the group for proper display of product in the stall, ways of bargaining with consumer, consumer satisfaction & behavior. As expected, in the seven day-duration of the MELA, the group made a transaction worth Rs. 50,000/- selling off their products completely in the ADIBASI MELA in 2011, making a clear profit of Rs. 10,000/- after calculating investment costs in transportation and operational expenses.