toe hold india

A couple of years ago, ASCENT (Asian Centre for Entrepreneurial Initiatives) had conducted a workshop, during which a short film on one of their projects was screened. ASCENT had adopted a village, Athani in Belgaum district and their objective was to make the women of the village financially independent. This was because the village was dependent on agriculture income which was not coming through and the farmers were not ready for an alternative employment. The viilage, like any other Indian village, has its own tale of woes in the form of alcoholism, lack of basic facilities and so on.

ASCENT with two other organisations Central Leather Research Institute and National Leather Development Programme, set up a kolahpuri chappal making project in Athani through SHGs(self help groups). The Central Leather Research Institute contributed the designs and offered technical assistance, while National Leather Development Programme provided leather. These products are exported and the village has turned into a model village.

Though the objetive was to make women earn a livelihood, as the project gained momentum, the menfolk pitched in and the problem of alcoholism was resolved on its own. For more information, visit www.toeholdindia.com