VIKAS SAHYOG PRATISHTHAN

Farryl Manek and Marmik Desai began their social internship at Vikas Sahyog Pratishthan  (VSP) in February as a part of their MBA program at NMIMS, Mumbai. They had an opportunity to interview 2 women entrepreneurs of Sangrampur block in Buldana District of Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra. Following is the experience shared by the students : A Word with 2 Women Entrepreneurs of Sangrampur -6th February, 2018 As a part of that program, a few days back we had the pleasure of interviewing Usha Tai and Alka Tai, two women from one of VSP's Self-Help Groups in Vidarbha, who they had arranged to visit Mumbai for Pratibimb 2018. Pratibimb is VSP's annual exhibition-cum-sale organized by Rangoonwala Foundation India Trust, where they display and sell completely organic products produced by their various self-help groups and farmers in Vidarbha and other rural regions of Maharashtra. These women came from a small village called Bhon in the Vidarbha region of Mahrashtra. Bhonga

                 It was VSP’s  6 th   time this year at Pratibimb 2018-an Exhibition cum sale event organised by Rangoonwala Foundation India Trust (RFIT). Our focus was on raising awareness about organic products and taking them directly from the farmers to the customers.                             VSP has been working since 1990 with deprived communities in rural parts of Maharashtra enabling the communities to improve Sustainability of Livelihood status, Education and assert Dignity of disadvantaged communities. Our three key focus areas are Quality Education, Sustainable Livelihood and Soil & Water Conservation. We have been working extensively in the Konkan, Vidarbha and other drought affected rural regions of Maharashtra to reach out to people who are in dire need of this help.                                            A big part of our work has been in promoting Sustainable Agricultural practices through Parisar Bag – A model for improving househ

As we wrapped up yet another year of a very successful association with Pratibimb, we wanted to reflect back on the wonderful exhibition that it was and the year leading up to it. Pratibimb is an annual exhibition-cum-sale organized by the Rangoonwala Foundation India Trust in Mumbai. It serves as a platform for its Partner Organizations like us, trainees from its Community Centers, as well as individuals and groups associated with it to exhibit and sell their products and also to reflect on their work. Through Pratibimb, the idea is to enhance the visibility of the work of the participating organizations and also to sensitize civil society on the processes and to the people behind the products on display. It was held this year at Bajaj Hall in  Nariman Point and spanned a period of 4 days from 6 th of February to the 9 th of February.