As per the discussion with the Development Commissioner, Handicrafts, New Delhi, KIIT-TBI is developing a 3-month incubation proposal for 8 jute artisans from Urnati Jute Cluster, Gop, Puri. Shri Samarendra Sahu, Advisor at KIIT-TBI, along with Mr. Debashis Tripathy (Sr. Manager), Mr. Barada Prasanna Sahoo (Manager), and Mr. Manoranjan Maharana (Associate), visited the cluster on 3rd of June 2024. The purpose of the visit was to meet the women jute artisans and understand their current business ecosystem and incubation needs.
The Advisor addressed the group, explaining about the proposed incubation program. He outlined how the program aims to enhance skills and entrepreneurial knowledge through design and technology interventions, as well as marketing support. He emphasized that participants would emerge as independent businesswomen capable of setting up and running their own businesses at the completion of the proposed incubation program.
The artisans of the cluster have been working in the cluster for quite some time, which is a SFURTI cluster approved under the flagship scheme of the Ministry of MSME. The time has come to develop their entrepreneurial skills and help them grow as business leaders through the incubation program. During the meeting, 8 progressive artisans were selected to participate in the program.
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The participants were explained about their involvement in the incubation program. They were told that they would be required to attend classroom sessions to be organized at KIIT-TBI, Bhubaneswar as per the requirement of the incubation model developed for the purpose. The classroom sessions would be followed by practical sessions either in the cluster or in other relevant institutions, such as National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and National Institute of Fashion Designing (DIFD), Baramunda, Bhubaneswar, Multi-disciplinary Training Centre, Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Jagamara, Bhubaneswar, and the State office of Coir Board, Bhubaneswar.
The meeting included a discussion on restructuring the existing special purpose vehicle (SPV) by increasing the number of Board of Directors (BoDs) and incorporating a few members from the artisan groups. The prospective new board members were also present at the meeting. Responsibilities were allocated among the board members, covering specific departments, such as operations, marketing & PR, inventory and store management, finance, maintenance, and human resource management. Additionally, the visiting team toured the facility and interacted with the artisans working there.