WADSA AGARBATTI PROJECT - mahaforest.nic.inmahaforest.nic.in/fckimagefile/Agarbatti project Wadsa Dn_.pdf · WADSA AGARBATTI PROJECT Gadchiroli district is one of the most backward

WADSA AGARBATTI PROJECT

Gadchiroli district is one of the most backward districts of the state of

Maharashtra. With little employment opportunities in the urban sector, low HDI

index and lack of industrial growth majority of the people are poor and work as

agriculturists and agriculture labour. With 76% of the area under forests, the forest

department is a major wage provider providing wages through Tendu Bonus

Distribution, Plantation and Nursery Activities and MNREGA works. These works

are however seasonal and so provide temporary employment. Keeping in mind

these problems, and owing to the abundance of Bamboo, one of the activities

started is the Agarbatti Project in 2012. Agarbatti making consists of 4 steps:

a. Bamboo Round Stick Making

b. Coating with Dough

c. Scenting/Perfuming

d. Marketing and Sale.

The project involves production of raw agarbattis at the local centers

employing ladies and then supplying them to the various brands for perfuming and

sale. This basic job of creating raw agarbattis is vital in the value chain of agarbatti

making and provides a dignified and desk job for the women employed. The

project was first started in May 2012 in 5 centers across the district and today

boasts of 30 centers each employing 15-20 ladies. One of the first centers to be set

up in Wadsa Forest Division was the Porla Agarbatti Centre started with 20 ladies.

These ladies were selected on the basis of certain criteria like the landless,

widowed women, women with children with no livelihood means, young women

with old dependent parents etc. In these centers the women are trained to prepare

the agarbatti mixture and coat it around the bamboo stick with the help of pedal

machines. On an average each lady makes 12-15kg of agarbatti per day and is paid

against the quantum of agarbatti made at the rate of Rs.10/kg of wet agarbatti. The

subsequent drying and packing of the agarbattis is also the job of the ladies.

Owing to the fact that the job is easy to perform, gives high returns, people

can work in shade and provides employment through the year, the project soon

gained prominence and there is demand from several villages for setting up new

centres. The Porla Agarbatti Centre was expanded to accommodate 30 ladies and

the second centre in the division was established in village Sonsari of Delanwadi

range. Subsequently new centres were established at Wadegaon, Gothangaon and

Kurkheda.

Agarbatti Centre Porla.

Agarbatti Centre Gothangaon

The status of the 5 agarbatti centres is as follows:

S.No Centre Name Starting Date No. of

Machines

Agarbatti Made Revenue

Realized*

1. Porla June 2012 30 73 tons 12 lakhs

2. Sonsari May 2013 30 13 tons 2.5 lakhs

3. Gothangaon July 2013 30 15 tons 3.2 lakhs

4. Wadegaon June 2013 30 21 tons 3.8 lakhs

5. Kurkheda October 2014 20 1.5 tonnes 0.25 lakhs

Total 130 123.5 tons 19.75 lakhs

*Status as on Oct. 2014

Each centre has a supervisor who records the quantity of Agarbatti made by

each lady and payment is made against it once in 15 days. To ensure transparency

in the process and to eliminate human error, all women have been given RFID

based smart cards which record electronically the quantity of agarbatti made each

day by the individuals and stores them till deleted. Also now all ladies have been

given bank accounts and money is deposited directly into the respective account.

The project has installed a strong

bond between the women in the

centres and has united them as a

large family.

Wadsa Agarbatti Project-Success Indicators

1. Establishment of a labour intensive

employment.

2. Average wage rate earned increased from Rs.80 per day to Rs.150

3. Utilisation of vacant government in

godowns.

4. Close cordial relationship between Government staff and Villagers

5. Overall economic development of villages since regular inflow of funds

within the village.

6. Average number of wage earning

days to 225 days in a year

7. Development of Entrepreneurial skills among 30 to 40 women members of

GAP producer groups

8. Significant easing of pressure on the forest due to alternative livelihoods.

Success Indicators

labour intensive industry engaging locals in gainful

Average wage rate earned increased from Rs.80 per day to Rs.150

of vacant government infrastructures like rest houses

Close cordial relationship between Government staff and Villagers

Overall economic development of villages since regular inflow of funds

Average number of wage earning days in a year increased from 45 to 60

days to 225 days in a year.

Development of Entrepreneurial skills among 30 to 40 women members of

GAP producer groups.

Significant easing of pressure on the forest due to alternative livelihoods.

locals in gainful

Average wage rate earned increased from Rs.80 per day to Rs.150 per day.

frastructures like rest houses and

Close cordial relationship between Government staff and Villagers

Overall economic development of villages since regular inflow of funds

days in a year increased from 45 to 60

Development of Entrepreneurial skills among 30 to 40 women members of

Significant easing of pressure on the forest due to alternative livelihoods.

The project is unique in the sense it provides meaningful employment to the rural

women. As compared to toiling in the hot sun it gives them an opportunity to work

at a desk under a roof. It enabled them to earn about Rs. 3000 per month based on

their ability. It has led to establishment of new bonds and ties between the

members of the centre. It gives them a flexibility of working as per their

convenient timing and in a safe environment. Also literacy has nothing to do with

working in this project. Owing to these features this project is one of the most

widely spreading projects in Gadchiroli. Another positive outcome of this project

is the sea change in the outlook of the women. Since the inception of this project in

these two years the women have grown more confident, outspoken and have

developed a positive outlook towards life in general.