25-Jan-2025
Incorporation of Sulabhaa Initiative's first Women-led Community Enterprise: A Step Toward Women Empowerment and Sustainable Development
This producer company is targeted to facilitate the socio-economic transformation of women in forest-dominated landscapes of Odisha. The Kanamraj GSPC is part of a special initiative by the Government of Odisha, in collaboration with ISB – Sulabhaa Green Business Enterprise Leadership Cohort. This community enterprise model envisions an innovative framework for creating large-scale opportunity for employment, livelihood promotion, and social enterprise development, keeping the primary collectors of seasonal forest produce at the centre of the intervention.
On 20th January 2025, KANAMRAJ GREEN SHAKTI PRODUCER COMPANY LIMITED was officially incorporated in Kalimela, Malkangiri, Odisha. This milestone marks a significant step toward empowering women and advancing sustainable development in the region.
What is a Producer Company?
A Producer Company is a hybrid business model that combines the spirit of cooperative societies with the efficiency of private companies. It is registered under the Companies Act and is owned and operated by a group of producers who work collectively to achieve shared goals. In the case of Green Shakti Producer Company, the Board of Directors, members and shareholders are women who harvest, process, and sell Sustainable Forest Products (SFPs).
A GSPC is entirely owned by women members who contribute capital and actively participate in the company's activities. It is governed by an elected Board of Directors (BoD) representing the members, and decisions are made democratically. The GSPC will adopt and promote sustainable harvesting practices to preserve forest ecosystems within their areas of operation. Transparent accounting practices build trust among members. By joining hands, members benefit from economies of scale, reduced costs, and better market positioning. The company's professional management and direct market linkages give it an edge in the competitive SFP market.
About Sulabhaa
The Sulabhaa initiative is a first-of-its-kind, large-scale program that offers an unconventional, semi-structured six-month induction grounded in self-transformation, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills. Structured as a fellowship, the program combines real-world experience in starting and managing a Producer Company with a comprehensive training curriculum covering financial literacy, leadership, business management, and sustainable resource utilization.