SURABHI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (SBDS)
SBDS offers Business Development support
services to strengthen existing livelihoods and to create
new micro enterprises through skill building, re-skilling
and other complimentary services. These services include
activity clusters creation, establishment of forward and
backward linkages and value addition to the existing business
and production processes and products.
SHEPHERD & NDFS initiated efforts to
offer concerted Business Development Services to Surabhi
members as part of deepening credit and livelihoods promotion
strategy. Three areas had been identified as core business
development services. They are
Activity Clusters Identification
So far three activity clusters had been
identified to promote rigorous business development in order
to generate more number of livelihoods to the members. Wood
carving in Thammampatti block of Salem district, Banana
fibre making and floriculture in Trichy District were selected
as part of pilot project for implementation.
Market Linkages
SHEPHERD had identified supplier and sellers
markets to the cluster based business activities. Forward
and backward linkage strategies had been worked out for
taking in to account of cost, scale and marketing propositions.
Value Addition
SHEPHERD also started exploring opportunities
for processing, cold storage, branding and exporting options
as value addition services to the businesses.
Financial Literacy
SHEPHERD is organizing financial literacy to low income
group women. The emphasis on savings, credit, insurance
and micro pension. Finally, educating the women to have
proper financial planning to build better future.