In collaboration with IOM, NEEV started
training for Paper Bags Making Unit to
establish community rehabilitation unit in
the community of Burmamines slum area.
The aim of the project was to start a
handmade paper packaging unit for 5
women of the basti, train them over a
period of 6 months and make them suit-
able to earn their livelihood through this
enterprise.
As part of phase 1 of the program, which
lasted between June, 2011 to Aug, 2011
NEEV identified trafficking survivors as
well as women vulnerable to trafficking
for running this enterprise so that they
have a more dignified means of earning a
livelihood as well as enhance their iden-
tity.
This economic rehabilitation would pre-
vent them from retrafficking. This project
would also serve as a pilot basis for set-
ting up a community based rehabilitation
unit for the survivors of trafficking and
prevent them from commercial sexual
exploitation by creating awareness and
economic values for employment.
The five women chosen for the enterprise
were
1. Chandni Karmakar
2. Shivani
3. Gayatri Rajat
4. Yashoda Devi
5. Mamta Karmakar
Initially, finding a rented place to carry out
the training proved to be very difficult. So
in the first phase till the time, the machines
did not arrive, a mud hut in the basti was
refurbished and converted to a training
centre. Initially handmade paper bags were
made in the hut as packaging for NEEV
Herbal Handmade Soaps. The women
learnt the basic skills of measuring, folding,
cutting , pasting and riveting. Gradually the
women got expert in making these bags.
After the women gained proficiency in
making bags, NEEV commenced phase 2 of
the program
INTRODUCTION
PURCHASE OF MACHINES
Phase II of the project (Sept 2011—Nov 2011) started with the purchase of machines. The
following machines were purchased for creating a paper packaging unit.
The women were then provided training on these machines to make various products.
Inside this report :
Shifting to New Unit 2
Formation of SHG 2
Product Development 2
Marketing Linkages 3
Way Ahead 3
Handmade Paper Products made by Rambasti Slum Women
Handmade Paper Packaging Unit for Women Vulnerable to
Trafficking
TCPA PROJECT 30TH NOVEMBER, 2011
Rotary Creasing Manual Cutting Shrink Wrap Rivetting
After procurement of machines, the hut
in the basti was no longer found suit-
able because of space and security con-
straints. Finally, after a lot of delibera-
tion and scouting for opportunities, a
new space was rented in Hurlung village
near the NEEV Soaps unit because of
following considerations. Firstly, the
safety and security of all equipment
could be ensured because a family was
stationed to live in the same compound
as the paper packaging unit. As majority
of the products like gift bags and gift
boxes would be consumed in the soaps
unit, the new location gave us logistical
advantage.
Five cycles, sanctioned for the project
were purchased so that women can
commute from their basti to the pro-
duction unit when required. It was de-
cided that the main operations requiring
machines like cutting and creasing
would be done in bulk by the women
on certain days and the pasting opera-
tions would be carried out in the hut
itself.
After the women gained proficiency in
making paper bags, NEEV decided to ex-
pand the range of products that women
can make with paper.
First of all NEEV decided to train the
women in the making of gift boxes out of
hard board. These hard board boxes were
then covered with handmade paper and
converted to gift boxes. These gift boxes
were recently sold in the recently held
International Trade Fair, held in New
Delhi.
SHIFTING TO NEW UNIT
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATION BUIDLING - FORMATION OF SHG
To get the women to work was fraught with challenges. Working as a team did not come ei-
ther easily or naturally to the women at first. Fights would erupt at the slightest of instances.
Through psycho social counseling carried out by NEEV’s project co-ordinator, Mrs Sangita
Sarkar and trainer Mrs. Shankari Das, the women slowly started to work as a group.
Gradually as the synergy built up, the women started enjoying the work. NEEV faced a hurdle
in registering the women as a separate legal entity as no form seemed legally feasible with just
five members. Ultimately, NEEV came up with a solution to form an SHG with 10 members of
the basti but with women of the paper packaging production unit as the office bearers. Ulti-
mately, an SHG by the name of NARI SHAKTI MAHILA SAMITI was formed and its bank ac-
count is due to be opened in nearby Canara Bank. The office bearers of the SHG are
President - Lakshmi Murmu, Secretary - Shivani, Treasurer - Chandni Karmakar
Page 2
TCPA PROJECT
New Production Unit
Women working in new unit
After that the women were trained in
making various kinds of handmade paper
stationary.
The women were trained in making vari-
ous kinds of envelopes, visiting cards and
file folders. Experimentation is still going
on and more products are expected to
be added in future. NEEV can then help
in marketing of these products.
Of the products manufactured by the
beneficiaries in the paper packaging unit
there is a ready demand for handmade
paper bags and gift boxes from NEEV
Herbal Handmade Soaps. NEEV’s soaps
unit requires about 500 gift boxes and
200 handmade paper bags per month.
In future, NEEV is also going to come
out with new designs of gift boxes
thereby increasing it ‘s range of product
offerings.
Apart from the demand generated by
NEEV Soaps unit, NEEV is also trying to
create innovative methods of marketing
other products. On the anvil is setting
up a NEEV handicrafts website wherein
the various handmade paper stationary
and paper craft items are going to be
showcased for sale.
NEEV is trying to do some value addi-
tions to handmade paper stationary to
make it more appealing for customers,
while transforming the object from a
mere utility product to an aesthetic
craft work.
NEEV is also experimenting with other
forms of paper like recycled paper and
paper mache for making innovative
products which catch the fancy of the
modern and environmentally conscious
customer.
NEEV has links with the DRDA through
which it’s products can participate in
various melas across India.
Next year, the Assistant Development
Commissioner of Handicrafts has af-
firmed that he would help the artisans
associated with NEEV in marketing and
product development through various
schemes.
After initial training, marketing and innovation become the key factors that can ensure the sustainability of any enterprise. The
women also have to be further handheld till they are able to undertake other functions of enterprise management apart from pro-
duction, like purchase, inventory management, accounting and budgeting. The learning curve for all these activities, especial ly for
women from this strata is not very steep. They would require constant handholding from the NGO over an extended period of
time.
Nonetheless, a beginning has been made. There is a new sense of identity among the women and definitely this would go a long
way in preventing them from taking trafficking as a source of livelihood.
With it’s history of tireless innovation and sustained focus on marketing, NEEV shall find ways of keeping the enterprise alive in
years to come. As the world increasingly shifts to environmentally friendly packaging, the paper packaging unit of Nari Shakti Sa-
miti, SHG, has made a head-start !
MARKETING LINKAGES
LOOKING AHEAD
Page 3
TCPA PROJECT
Innovative Products Designed by NEEV for the packaging unit