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TARA Technologies
- a boon for creating profitable business
Arun Singh Panwar
aspanwar@devalt.org
"Where is the
wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in
information?"
- T.S.
Eliot, in his poem The Rock
Action
without knowledge is wasteful; knowledge without action is useless.
Social enterprises are realising that information, knowledge and even
wisdom are of little consequence unless transformed into business with
projects. TARA, a social enterprise, promotes technologies and solutions
with the objective of creating sustainable livelihoods in large numbers
with business like methods.
TARA
Technologies are available in four major categories:
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Building Material
Production |
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Handloom Textiles
Production |
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Hand Made Paper
Production |
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Briquetting Fuel
Production |
TARA Technologies
All the TARA
Technologies are marketed nationally and supported with state-of-the-art
manufacturing and R&D. TARA Technologies are reliable and have proved to
be profitable businesses. TARA Building Material Technologies are the
hot favourites for every market - Urban, Semi–rural and Rural. These
technologies incorporate the use of material wastes such as fly ash,
stone dust, and marble dust for innovative products such as micro
concrete roofing tiles, paving blocks, interlocking walling, wall tiles
and water tanks. TARA Loom is a new generation weaving machine as it
incorporates many advanced features to improve the efficiency of weaving
and the quality of woven fabric. TARA Briquetting Technology is a very
powerful medium to convert invasive biomass (like ipomoea and lantana)
into a clean fuel i.e. Charcoal Briquettes, which could be used as a
cooking fuel for household, local ‘Dhabas’ (roadside eateries), bakeries
and for ironing.
Strategy
Adopted for the promotion of TARA Technologies
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Representation of
Tara at local level |
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- Activation of Channel Partner at
district level
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Generation of
potential
client base |
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- Involvement of existing
clients |
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- Combing Local market
i.e. Visiting similar trade clients |
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Participation in
exhibitions |
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- Linking with various
NGOs and financial institutions
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Detailing of TARA
Technologies |
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- Business Opportunity
Workshops |
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- Distribution of
promotional materials in local languages
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Brand Building
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- Quality control and
reliability |
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- Technical support for
commissioning |
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- Training in application
and business management
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After Sales Service |
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- Feedback on TARA
Technologies |
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- Continuous R&D |
Success of
TARA Machines
TARA Machines
are increasingly popular with small scale business enterprises. This is
reflected through enquiries generated and sales in all states of the
country, especially in MP, UP, Uttaranchal, Chattisgarh, Bihar and
Rajasthan. After consolidating its market presence in Central India, it
was vital to strengthen the TARA network in south India. Karnataka has
been one of the focus regions for promotion of TARA Micro Concrete
Roofing Technology; an area where Mangalore tile roofing has been a
dominating factor. Many NGOs and SHGs have used the TARA building
technologies in their projects successfully. Subsequently, private
entrepreneurs came forward and established TARA technologies, by which
they continue to generate a good amount of business and earn large
profits. Some of these successful businesses have been elevated to the
status of TARA Channel Partners. In this new role, they promote
technology sales with TARA guidance and earn a good amount of
commission. Mr. Channe Gowda had started a MCR unit six years back.
Everybody knows him as a concrete tiles maker in nearby markets. He is
now a TARA Channel Partner for MCR technologies.
TARA Looms –
new generation weaving machines
TARA Looms
are a success in Bihar, Uttaranchal and Rajasthan. TARA Looms are
popular in these regions because women can easily operate these looms
and earn handsome wages. Some of the innovative features include:
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Take–up mechanism with
emery roller for semi–automatic operation |
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Let–off mechanism for
auto tension control |
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Fly wheel and steel
frame for higher efficiency |
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High speed of operation |
And, because
of these features, TARA Loom is an all–in–one machine which:
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Can operate without any
vibration at high speed (Average 100 picks per minute) |
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Doubles productivity of
cloth with no increase in effort |
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Weaves superior quality
cloth of all yarns( Cotton, wool, silk and synthetics) |
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Uses both mill and hand
spun yarn (wool, tusser silk and pushmina) |
Future Plans
To create sustainable
livelihoods and to generate more and more business, we are strengthening
our network with schools (especially for Mini Paper Recycling unit)
NGOs, existing entrepreneurs, channel partners and financial
institutions. Some of the financial institutions are as follows:
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1. |
Science and Technology
Entrepreneurship Development (STED) |
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2. |
Building Material and
Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC). |
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3. |
District Industry Centre
(DIC) |
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4. |
Small Industries Service
Institute (SISI) |
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District Rural
Development Authority (DRDA) |
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6. |
Handicraft and Handloom
Development Corporation Ltd. |
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