|
Small steps, Big
Achievements
I The Development Alternatives Group believes that emerging green building material enterprises hold great promise for creating green collar jobs on a large scale for preserving the environment, and for reinvigorating distressed green economies. With the help of various projects under its habitat programme, DA has been acting as a green business incubator for supporting first time entrepreneurs aiming to solve the environmental and social problems in their communities.
Emerging Entrepreneurs
Babulal Khuswaha and Narendra
Khuswaha belong to village Bhundri near Orchha town (Niwari block,
Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh). Babulal was working as an unskilled
labour in the MCR production unit of TARA Nirman Kendra (in TARAgram
Orchha) for about six years (2000-2006), after which he has worked with
a private MCR enterprise on daily wage basis for about four years
(2007-2010). Narendra Khuswaha had been working as a steel fabricator in
nearby villages of Orchha. In 2010, they joined the TARA Karigar Mandal
by forming an artisans’ group called ‘Jai Charidwari Samuha’ and have,
with the support of different projects of the DA Group, undergone
various training programmes for skill upgradation and enterprise
development. |
|
Features of Micro Concrete Roofing (MCR) Technology Environmentally Appropriate: Uses locally available raw material (stone dust), up to 40 per cent savings in cement, sand, aggregates, etc., and decentralised production makes it more energy efficient. Social Equity: Labour intensive production creates jobs and livelihoods. Economic Well Being: Requires relatively less investment and enhances the local economy of the region. Technological Efficiency: Superior durability, good thermal insulation as compared to Galvanised Iron (GI) sloping roof, and easy to learn technology. |
|
It has been about a year since this MCR enterprise was established and it continues to in full swing. The financial tracking of this enterprise done by DA shows that it has already crossed the breakeven point and has started earning good profits. The demand for the MCR tiles in the surrounding areas is steadily on the rise, as a result of which the MCR enterprise is getting continuous work orders. Both Babulal Kushwaha and Narendra Kushwaha are very happy with their MCR enterprise as it has created very good livelihood opportunity for them and improved their quality of life. q Amol Mangrulkar Endnotes 1 (Micro Concrete Roofing) MCR tile is a cost-effective and eco-friendly roofing alternative that has found proven applications in dhabas, residential buildings, and bungalows, industrial sheds, parking bays, farmhouses and garages. A small workspace of 40 square meters is adequate for setting up a production unit. Several entrepreneurs have set up units in their backyards
|
