Empowering Rural Women: The Sudemsri Dhakua Udyog Success Story

In the lush arecanut plantations of Baksa, Assam, a group of five enterprising Bodo women have transformed waste into wealth, creating economic empowerment in their communities. This is the inspiring journey of Sudemsri Dhakua Udyog, a testament to the power of innovation, perseverance, and community support in rural North East India.

During the pandemic, when traditional income sources dried up, these five women from a remote village in Baksa district realized that the arecanut sheaths, abundantly available in their family and village plantations, could be more than just waste.

Inspired by an awareness campaign conducted by Tamul Plates Marketing Private Limited , the women formalized their group and began supplying arecanut sheaths. This initiative not only provided them with a much-needed income during the pandemic but also opened their eyes to the untapped potential of their natural resources.

As the pandemic's grip loosened, Damayanti Brahma and her team at Sudemsri Dhakua Udyog wanted to make the transition from from sheath collection to arecanut leaf plate production. This move required not just vision, but courage to overcome fears and embrace new challenges like accessing finance, operating a hydraulic press machine, marketing the products etc.

The group's collaboration with Tamul Plates Marketing Private Limited proved instrumental in this phase. Through brainstorming sessions and discussions, they explored the feasibility of setting up a home-based production unit for arecanut leaf plates. This idea wasn't just about increasing income; it was about value addition and creating a sustainable, eco-friendly product that could comply with the quality standards of Tamul and compete in the domestic and international market.

Assam Gramin Vikas Bank provided a crucial term loan for machinery purchase. The group infused their own capital to create the infrastructure. This partnership exemplifies how rural banking institutions can play a crucial role in fostering rural entrepreneurship and women's empowerment. The bank's decision to provide a term loan for machinery purchase was a pivotal moment. It not only enabled the group to start production but also instilled a sense of credibility and confidence in their business model. The women's commitment was evident as they pooled their resources to create the necessary infrastructure, showcasing their dedication and belief in their collective vision. Tamul collaborated with the group to provide all technical support, trained the members on the complete machine operations and production process and assured fortnightly product procurement. This ensured that the group never had a stagnant inventory and their monthly installment of the bank loan started getting repaid.

In just 14 months, Sudemsri generated a revenue of INR 8.50 Lakhs, a significant achievement for a rural start-up. Each member now earns an average of INR 8,000 per month, substantially improving their financial stability and quality of life.

The increased income has enabled members to back their loan, ensuring better financial health for their households. Children's education is now more secure, with members able to keep their children in school, investing in the next generation.

Today, the common goal of Sudemsri is to intensify areca sheath collection. This not only ensures a steady supply for their production but also creates additional income opportunities for other women in their village. By scaling up their operations, they aim to create a deep sustainable impact in their community and uplift families out of their poverty.