Millet Magic Foundation (MMF), which has set up a millet cluster under the flagship SFURTI scheme of Ministry of MSME at Mohanpur village of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha commemorated the end of their month-long extravaganza – FIRE on 18th of March 2024. FIRE – “Financial Independence Through Resourceful Entrepreneurship” was themed around fostering women entrepreneurship among rural women in light of the International Women’s day. Set up four years ago, Mohanpur Millet Cluster, today stands tall with its impactful stories in rural India by organizing farmers in the vicinity of the cluster and promoting millet as a healthy alternative to everyday snacking.
The celebration attracted more than three hundred women, also the members of the SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle), from the neighboring rural areas of the cluster. The women folks dressed in their elegant, traditional attire with smile and pride in their face participated patiently in the celebration spanning over the whole day. The programme comprised of felicitation of dignitaries by the dynamic promoters of MMF, Ms. Shyama Jha and Mr. Ajay Raj, address by the dignitaries, tribal folk dance (Chhau) by the tribal artisans of the area, pitching by 30 women SPV members for facilitating their entrepreneurial journey and visit by the dignitaries to the factory premises of the cluster.
The highlight of the function was the pitching made by the 30 SPV members before the jury consisting of the dignitaries. Each of the participating members was presented with a certificate by the dignitaries in recognition of their unwavering dedication and enthusiasm to set up their own enterprises. The month-long programme, hosted by Ms. Sharon Eileen Kumar was efficiently executed by the MMF team in association with Exstemplar Education Linkers Foundation. It was announced by the promoter Ms. Shyama Jha that two winners of the Rural women start-up pitch presenters would be awarded in a function in Bangalore by Ms. Sharon of Exstemplar Education Linkers Foundation.
The dignitaries bracing the celebration were; Maharani of Mayurbhanj HH Rashmi Rajyalaxmi Bhanjdeo, Madam Sonam Mishra, CSR Head Sulabh International Delhi, Mr. Samarendra Sahu, Advisor KIIT-Technology Business Incubator, Madam Sharon Kumar and Mr. Amit from Extemplar Education Linkers Foundation and Madam Sanjukta Basa, Social Activist.
Shri Samarendra Sahu, Advisor, KIIT-TBI while addressing the gathering expressed his immense satisfaction for evolution of the cluster to its present form.He recollected that the cluster had to pass through many ups and downs through its journey and expressed his big appreciation of the able and passionate mentorship of Ms. Shyama Jha and Mr. Ajay Raj for guiding the cluster to its present state.
He also expressed his big appreciation of the innovations of the promoters to establish best practices worth emulation by other SFURTI clusters. He exhorted the promoters to take up cultivation of millet in the adjacent neighboring areas of the cluster to provide livelihood and improved income generation of the poor farmers. He also sought the support and cooperation of the local populace to march ahead in an impactful path as guided by the promoters.
The function ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Ajay Raj to the dignitaries as well as the participants gathered in the function.
