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

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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

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TCPA PROJECT

Innovative Products Designed by NEEV for the packaging unit