A couple of years ago Suresh Naik of Surugunja village of Rayagada district used to work as a migrant labour in Kerala. But now he is a happy man, who not only became an entrepreneur and head of one fabrication unit but also offers jobs to others.
For this transformation in his life, he gives all credit to Project Udyamee. The project, a brainchild of Utkal Alumina, an Aditya Birla Group company, has been instrumental in transforming lives not just for Suresh but several others in the region.
The unique sustainable livelihood programme, which was kickstarted in July 21 by Utkal Alumina in association with Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), aims to promote 300 entrepreneurs in non-farm and agri-allied sector through Rural Business Incubation Model.
Going in line with the clarion call of Atmanirbhar Bharat and to fulfil the objective of MDGs, the project has been implemented in the interior inaccessible areas of Kashipur of Rayagada and Thuamul Rampur of Kalahandi districts of Odisha to transform the lives of the local population for a socio-economic upliftment.
Informing about the project , Unit Head of Utkal Alumina Mazhar Beig said, “The unique sustainable livelihood programme supports the Government ecosystem of MSME, SMEs, OLM, etc. in the State while groinding the plan for a long-lasting outcome.”
At Gokulmunda village in Tikiri, a rural business incubation center has been established to offer business development services such as enterprise mapping, business plan preparation, convergence, market help, etc. to the first and second-generation business owners while meeting market demand, support rural businesses and improve the skills and expertise of these new business owners. It is also creating livelihood clusters.