international centre of Entrepreneurship & career development

“Only a Life Lived for Others is a Life Worthwhile” - Albert Einstein As a young girl of 20 years I would dream of my imagined ‘tall, dark, and handsome prince’. This thought was conditioned through the social upbringing. Family friends would all tease that one of these days your ‘prince’ will come and take you away with him – this was the implied worth of me as person. This conditioning gave me a reason for life that - I need to fall in love and only then would be life worth living. Maybe it was this pre-conditioning that from childhood that subconsciously I did seek out the man of my dreams and then went on to follow his dreams to make my life worth living (wasn’t this the message driven into me since childhood?). As per this conditioning, my worth and life purpose was supposed to be ‘Married to live a Happy life ever after’ by supporting my husband and his family. In this process I soon realized that I was living the life of a ‘second citizen’ in this world of ‘LOVE’. My e...

I definitely believe in my abilities, but I believed more in my team and very much relied on their abilities. What I am is just because of my team - I am indeed as good as my team. I do work to instill in them the desire to perform. I often fail but more than often I achieve what was desired. I too work as hard as my team.

We may define MSME again and again by increasing investment ranges. Policy focus on MSME is quite lopsided. Small businesses vary widely in size and capacity for growth. It is important to note SSI performance make 40% of India’s gross industrial value and creates largest employment opportunities with investment of few thousands. This includes all manufacturing, service and trading industry. By giving businesses in the hands of all villages should be in making a major reason to stop migration of India’s population, thus creating entrepreneurial villages. It’s time we consider micro entrepreneur as important economic contributor for whom most of the times finance is not available and hence growth hampers.

“Gayatri Tiffin Service” has made a big name in Chhatral village in the field of catering service. The mastermind behind this profitable business is Mrs. Rameela Dinesh, a thirty year old lady who did not have her schooling and got married at a very early age. Post her marriage she started helping her husband in his catering business. Rameela always wanted to start her own business to be financially independent but due to money constraints & lack of knowledge, she could not make a start. Rameela was looking for an opportunity. In the meanwhile she heard about ICECD ’s EDP training program. In the initial Rameela took some time to adapt to the training program. Later during the training she got the idea of Tiffin service from home. She observed that there was a large labour force at Chhatral GIDC & during her Market Survey realized that there was a very good scope of providing quality food. In 2017, after the entrepreneurship training program, she received a loan of Rs.3...

The strategy and approach for Women Entrepreneurship is a challenging development process and thus I adopted a systematic approach of identifying and selecting the capable rural women, developing and educating them and then providing follow-up support to enable these women to initiate their micro enterprises and income generation activities. The training modules are designed such that 80% to 85% of them start their own businesses and further employ others at the village level. The aim is to promote special progress, better standard of life and larger freedom for women. This process has not only led to self employment but has also enhanced the social and economic status of women. This successful and sustainable model has provided social security to women in terms of regular income, purchasing capacity and independence. It developed into a Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WEDP).

Women are often made to feel guilty for working. Why? Sitting at home does not create change. Sitting at home does not build women into leaders. I am not suggesting that a woman’s role as homemaker and mother be renounced in favor of working solely outside of the home. I am suggesting that the thought process that leads women to believe that “I am JUST a woman” be changed in favour of “I AM A WOMAN”. It is wonderful to be a woman. I am recommending that women appreciate and enjoy every aspect of their femininity, from homemaker, to mother. Also you can be an economic contributor in the family as women are the creator, nurturer, and has the right to enjoy this freedom of being family supporter and economic contributor. Entrepreneurship offers flexibility and freedom to nurture both business and family. There is nothing to be guilty about.

Satyameva Jayate International School went with digital teaching during lockdown. Founder-Director Dr. Hina Shah and Expert Advisor Dr. Shailendra Gupta share how one of the most green-eco friendly schools plans to continue its gurukul structure and about the education and safety matters.

Women have traditionally served and taken care of others without realizing they have been conditioned to such a limited role and understanding of themselves. Women carry the illusion and are conditioned to accept their lives as they are. They do not want to see the reality that proving oneself is important. I have experienced and have often heard stories of other women feeling dejected and rejected by the lack of support from the family. Using those feelings to challenge oneself to overcome obstacles is a necessary step to creating change. I implore women not to expect support from the family or even other community members. It is their conditioning that stops them from supporting. If women are aware of this conditioning, they will not be disappointed when outside support is not given. Remember: Not every successful woman has been supported by her family! Sometimes success comes in spite of the nonsupport, the rejection, and the suffering; sometimes because of it.