Livelihood Interventions
Green Initiatives of Urban SHGs
TNULM SHGs in collaboration with Care Earth Trust and Rockefeller Foundation has embarked on a journey to train SHGs to grow roof top gardens. This is aimed primarily at creating opportunities for healthy eating and also at creating opportunities for livelihood improvement, in terms of maintenance of roof top gardens of large resident welfare associations. Over 250 SHGs have been trained by the Mission as a pilot and they are supported with the necessary kits for the 1st time so that they can understand the proof of concept, before pursuing it further. Separate whatsapp groups are maintained for daily feedback and follow-up
Enterprise Development and Promotion
The component of Self Employment Program mainly deals with enterprise promotion of SHGs and its members. The government provides credit linkage through financial institutions and supports the SHGs through reduced interest rate subventions.
In order to promote micro-enterprises by SHGs, structured training programs are organized in regular intervals to SHGs, DMMU officials and SMMU Officials. The programs focus on various components of enterprise development and promotion such as Developing entrepreneurial thinking and action, Prototyping and experimentation, Developing a growth mind-set, taking the product/service to market, Understanding 4Ps of Marketing, Product/Service Positioning, Understanding the Consumer Journey, Strategy to increase sales and retain customers, Use social media for marketing and sales, using of digital platforms for marketing, Selling through modern retail, managing finances, Basics of costing, managing cashflows and working capital, Basic accounting, Understanding inventory, Basics of inventory management, Developing a strategic perspective, Using value chain to identify drivers of competitive advantage and Developing a business model canvas.
TNULM SHGs are being trained by various reputed institutions such as the Indian Institute of Management, Loyola Institute of Management, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Anna University – Management Department, besides several institutions within the state
Livelihood Opportunities in 13 Coastal Districts-based Urban SHGs
Fish processing activities typically generate 20–80 percent of solid waste, depending on the methodologies applied, and the type of raw materials used. These solid wastes consist of the head, guts, viscera – including liver and roe – the bones, fins, scales and skin. Improper disposal of fish waste from personal use fishing to commercial fisheries poses a potential risk to the environment and public health and safety. Hence, it is important to understand the best management practices for disposing fish waste to reduce nuisances and animal attraction. One of the modest methods to manage the fish waste and make use it to agriculture purpose is to prepare Fish Amino Acid Preparation. The Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihoods Mission is intended to provide ample training to SHG members existing in fishermen community to prepare the Fish Amino Acid and also to enhance the activity as their additional Livelihood Avenue.
Fish Amino Acid (FAA)
The Fish Amino Acid (FAA) is a liquid made from fish. FAA is of great value to both plants and microorganisms in their growth, because it contains and abundant amount of nutrients and various types of amino acids Use fish protein can promote root development, improve photosynthesis, promote the growth of plants, and is beneficial to flower bud differentiation, mature early, and can greatly improve the quality. Fish protein fertilizer with rich organic matter, protein, polypeptide, etc., after ploughing soil significantly increased the content of soil organic matter, can rapidly promote the soil microbial breeding, greatly activate the soil nutrient, increase the soil fertility, improve soil protecting fertilizer water. Fish Amino Acid (FAA) is an effective organic liquid fertilizer for plants growth and blooming. You can apply Fish Amino Acid fertiliser directly to soil or spray it to the leaves of the plant. Increase soil fertility and enrich soil nutrients. It makes the soil very loose, maintains the biomass of microorganisms and earthworms, and guarantees a healthy soil environment. Promote the growth of crop roots and leaves, and enhance photosynthesis, especially for seedlings
How to Prepare Fish Amino Acid
Fish waste helps us give green manure in the most natural way. This is widely used by organic farmers in the country.
Ingredients: 1 kg fish/waste, 1 kg jiggery.
Preparation:
- Remove the fish intestines and chop into fine pieces. (Using intestines is not harmful but it smells bad).
- Powder the jiggery and add it.
- Add the two to broad-mouthed glass jar (best) or plastic jar that is just the right size (not too big), cover the jar with the lid (cap), tighten it, and mix it well by shaking the jar.
- Don’t add water.
- In thirty days, this will be fermented.
- Filter it using nylon mesh to get 300-500 ml solution changed into honey-like syrup.
- This is a great nutrient for the plants.
Usage:
Add 5 ml of this with one litter water for spraying. It could also be mixed with irrigation water (but it should be used in bulk minimum 5kg of fish and 5kg jiggery). This amino acid can be preserved up to 9 months without any lose in nutritional strength.
Scope of Marketing for FAA:
The Fish Amino Acid will be used as bio-pesticide for the farm activities. This is one of easily prepared and available fertilisers. The Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihoods Mission has planned to scale up the activity as additional livelihoods avenue for the fishermen community. The produced FAA will be marketed to the farmers who are engaging in organic farm activities in the project area. TNULM will promote by using adequate methodology to market the FAA by introducing innovative logo and labelling.
Pilot Activity in Chennai
In Tamil Nadu totally 13 Districts are coming beneath the coastal region. In this Districts TNULM has formed 2362 fishermen community woman SHGs consisting of 32737 members and they are involved in fish vending activities.
Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihoods mission has planned to start Fish Amino Acid (FAA) production unit among the coastal District are through the SHGs. The Executive Director Mrs. Priyanka, IAS inaugurated the pilot activity training programme and Mr. John Britto, Technical Expert conducted the technical training and explained the mock preparation method of amino acid to SHG members in Pattinampakkam.
Regarding this the initiative taken in the piloting mode at Pattinambakkam and orientation programme have been conducted through technical experts. Based on that orientation programme the 8 SHG member are voluntarily came forward to do this activity.
Again, conducted the training programme for the 8 SHG members regarding the preparation of Fish amino Acid, process, packing, labelling and marketing training by the
expert. In continuation of training TNULM provided the basic materials of drum, Jaggery and bottle for the members. But due to, lacking of group dynamics and poor follow up of fish amino acid process among the members the pilot activity ended in failure. Subsequently the TNULM team identified another one SHG in Triplicane area and have explained the dos or don’ts and the reasons of failure of the already exemplary group and the appropriate methods of success.Properly followed the preparation methods and ingredients ratio who have involved in the activities., The SHGs involved with proper follow up and getting guidance from expert periodically. Based on that follow up the 1st cycle completed on 21st day and have been get 10 litre Fish Amino Acid (FAA) out of 16 litres of ingredients. As of now, 120 litters of Fish Amino Acid available and ready to supply anywhere of Tamil Nadu.
Cost of Production (I unit)
The cost of fish waste is 8 kg Rs.320 and 8 kg Jaggery Rs. 400 and a total production cost is including bottles and label Rs. 800 and end of process, they getting 10 litres of quality FAA. At present, the sale the Fish Amino Acid Rs 150/ litre in Bio pesticide &Manure stores and expecting the SHG members will be earned Rs.700 / Day.
Based on the success of piloting programme, TNULM has planned to extend the programme to the remaining 12 coastal Districts.
Special Interventions for Rag Pickers
Rag pickers are the invisible environmentalists, and play a significant role in waste recycling in India. The social inclusion of informal workers is crucial for sustainable plastic waste management. There is a strong need to understand the vulnerabilities of this segment and to address them in a systematic manner, in order to enhance their resilence.
TNULM in collaboration with UNDP has been organizing regular programs for improving the livelihoods of rag pickers. A baseline survey has been conducted to understand their access to basic amenities and their need for livelihood trainings.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as part of its circular economy vertical, supported by several private sector companies has approached TNULM for collaborating for uplifting the lives of vulnerable groups such as nomadic tribes, sanitary workers and informal waste pickers who experience a high risk of poverty and social exclusion compared to the general population. UNDP collaborates to take forward the initiative to work for the poverty alleviation and social inclusion of these vulnerable groups through participatory approaches and in consonance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
TNULM in collaboration with UNDP has been organizing regular programs for improving the livelihoods of rag pickers. A baseline survey has been conducted to understand their access to basic amenities and their need for livelihood trainings.
The waste pickers in major Corporations / Municipalities are often the poorest of the poor. They live in the most marginalized conditions, in the most dilapidated slum conditions, often not mainstreamed and are shunned due to a perceived lack of cleanliness and hygiene.
Such living conditions have pushed them into indebtedness, harassment and poor access to the services and credit. The crisis has laid bare the absolutely critical nature of the services they provide but yet, with the restrictions of collecting waste and challenges to the waste value chain, these waste pickers are finding themselves in a very precarious position. Thus, there is a need to look at alternate livelihood opportunities for waste pickers, more than ever within the ambit of social inclusion of Safai sathis.
In Chennai, mapping of alternate skills and potential livelihoods to help set up enterprises for better income opportunities is being done. Gypsy colony is one such community where the inhabitants (Narikkuravas or gypsies) practice waste picking by the day and also make traditional beaded jewelry and accessories.However, COVID 19 has disrupted both these activities in ways unimaginable and the community is now left with handouts from government.
As we begin to focus our energies towards a sustainable and resilient post pandemic recovery, TNULM is looking to support their lost livelihoods and financial inclusion.
The Project was inaugurated on October 19, 2020 and phase I implemented in North and Gypsy colony, Perungudi and Kodungaiyur of South Chennai. TNULM conducted the baseline survey and identified 504 ragpickers in Chennai.
| SI.NO | Name of the Zone/Area | No of Rag pickers Male | No of Rag pickers Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kodungaiyur | 111 | 141 |
| 2 | Kotturpuram | 36 | 64 |
| 3 | Perungudi | 79 | 73 |
| TOTAL | 226 | 278 | |
Community wise HHs
Now, as part of convergence of TNULM , it is proposed to set up Community Facilitation Centre for rag pickers. This Community Facilitation Centre would act as platform for convergence of all Government entitlements including social security benefits.
| SI.NO | Name of the Zone/Area | Total HHS | No of SHG Formed | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kodungaiyur | 212 | 0 | – |
| 2 | Kotturpuram | 133 | 5 | Gypsy colony |
| 3 | Perungudi | 152 | 0 | 10 Members covered under the PMJAY-CMCHIS insurance scheme. 20 members covered under jan dhan account. |
| TOTAL | 497 | 5 | – | |
SHG-based Micro Enterprises Development and Promotion
The promotion of viable enterprises is an important component of the entire process of SHG promotion. It synergises the positive features of savings and credit habits to set the stage for the subsequent establishment of income-generating micro-enterprises.
Special Interventions for Nomadic Tribes - Narikuravas
Nomadic Tribes and Semi Nomadic Tribes are one of the most deprived and economically weaker communities in India. A livelihood initiative to enhance productivity growth in key livelihood sectors for employment generation for DNT/NT/SNT communities through investments in institutional support and technical assistance is being carried out.
Urban Serve TM - Skilled Home Service Provisioning in Urban Areas
Service Platform for Blue Collar Professionals of Urban Tamil Nadu that ensures availability of Professional service to the urban population of Tamil Nadu and ensures Access to Employment opportunities and Incremental income for Service Professionals from TNULM Urban Poor SHG Network.
City livelihoods Centers (CLC)
Promotion of livelihoods of the urban poor is one of the key objectives of Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihoods Mission. Urban poor, either as individual or as a member of the SHG, is encouraged to undertake revenue generation activities under TNULM. Though the urban SHGs excel in production of quality goods and services, they seek support in finding viable marketing opportunities and linkages. City Livelihoods Centre is a platform for the urban poor where they can offer their goods and services in an organized manner to the potential consumers from the urban community. The urban poor can access information and business support services as and when required. In simple words, CLC can be described as “ONE STOP SHOP” for the people who are seeking services and for the people who are providing products and services.
Livelihood Interventions in Urban Pottery Clusters
In heritage skill of pottery-making art, growing demand for fashionable earthen pots, new business opportunities, and growing border trade relationships with the neighbouring state and countries, the community pottery skills are nurtured and provided with the tools and platform to create profitable enterprises.
Urban Basket TM - Marketing and Branding of TNULM SHG Products
A platform where SHGs can monetise by showcasing the SHG products and getting a cross-border enquiry for supplies. TNULM supports the groups through marketing and branding assistance on the platform.