They book good sales without hitch
Women\'s self-help groups which proved their mettle by manning paddy procurement centres and sand reaches, have newly forayed into notebook business.
SHGs foray into notebook making
Amaravati, Konaseema, Godavari books hit market
Pithapuram (East Godavari): Women's self-help groups which proved their mettle by manning paddy procurement centres and sand reaches, have newly forayed into notebook business. According to an estimate, more than 1 crore notebooks are used every academic year in East Godavari. After realising the business potential of notebooks, Collector H Arun Kumar directed DRDA Project Director S Malli Babu to pursue the matter to promote women’s empowerment.
The DRDA initiative led to setting up of a modern press at Amalapuram, a first of its kind venture in the state, at a cost of Rs 2 crore. Out of the total capital, Rs 1 crore was provided as bank loan. The entire press operations are managed by women. It produces notebooks in three sizes under the brand names Amaravati, Konaseema and Godavari. Amaravati is a long notebook. The notebooks using quality paper are competitively priced.
Initially, a sale target of 10 lakh notebooks was set. As the notebooks hit the market one month after the commencement of the academic year, the sale target was reduced to 5 lakh. The notebooks are being supplied to government schools and colleges, residential educational institutions of the Social Welfare Department and ITDA. The notebooks are also being sold in the open market.
Speaking to The Hans India, DRDA Project Director Malli Babu said ``The new venture has proved to be a success. About 3 lakh notebooks have already been sold. We are confident of achieving the set target in the first year. Women's groups under the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) and Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) are also involved in marketing of notebooks. We are planning to increase the production of notebooks from the next academic year.’’
By Saride Nageswara Rao
