Project Pragati, supported by the InterGlobe Foundation, marked the final phase of this initiative. We expanded our operations from the original project areas to new locations in Guwahati. This phase focused on training women and organizing them into collectives capable of running successful businesses. Two self-help groups (SHGs) were formed, enabling the women to pool their resources, collectively manufacture plates, and market them together.

In this phase, Tamul Plates started providing a 100% buy-back guarantee for the SHGs’ products along with technical support to the women entrepreneurs in the SHGs.

Our role shifted to building the social structures and systems necessary for the women’s SHGs to thrive. The financial model ensured that payments went directly to the SHGs, who then managed the relationship with Tamul Plates. This structure fostered a sense of agency and created a strong community of women entrepreneurs.

Within three years, both SHGs involved in this project became top earners in their block, with each member acting as a producer. Beyond the financial gains, the women experienced a transformation in their identities. Becoming financially independent and contributing significantly to their family incomes elevated their status within the community. They became role models for young women, demonstrating the power of entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

To learn more about the impact of the arecanut leaf plate industry on these women, their families, and their communities, please watch the accompanying video featuring their stories.