KSWDC to set up project consultancy wing for women entrepreneurs

The Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) proposes to set up a project consultancy wing to promote and facilitate women entrepreneurship.

Considering the high number of educated unemployed in the State and the limited job opportunities in the organised sector, government policies have been promoting entrepreneurship through loans and government guarantees. However, few women and transgender persons enter the domain of entrepreneurship in the absence of support that can ensure that their venture is a success. It is against this backdrop that the KSWDC plans to set up the project consultancy wing, says KSWDC managing director Bindu V.C.

The first requirement before launching an enterprise is to assess the need or demand for a product or service. Another is to determine how funds can be sourced at low interest rates. Legal requirements such as licence or local body permission and a detailed proposal for approaching a funding agency are also needed. This is where the project consultancy wing comes in, Ms. Bindu said.

Once an enterprise is launched, entrepreneurs need to know what marketing techniques to adopt to sell product, as also financial understanding of taxes and book-keeping. Often, hurdles crop up, making it difficult for women to sustain a venture. The consultancy will advise and handhold them when needed.

The KSWDC will empanel various agencies, including the Kudumbashree, for providing marketing, finance, and technological advice and drawing up project proposals for a small fee. For the financially backward, the services will be made available for free.

The consultancy will have three areas of operations: entrepreneurship development committee (EDC), skill enhancement intervention programme (SEIP), and a holistic approach to mentoring. The EDC, set up with the support of entrepreneurs, mentors, and trainers, will identify a project for a client, conduct feasibility study, provide advisory services, handhold client to start an enterprise, provide financial assistance, obtain quality assurance certifications, and help with branding.

The SEIP will assess the capacity of a beneficiary to start an enterprise, empanel experts to develop a business plan, scale start-up to be local successes, emphasise innovation, and provide training in accounts management. These will be customised interventions.

The third wing of the consultancy aims at providing a holistic solution to issues faced by women through the KSWDC regional offices, district industries centre, Kudumbashree’s microenterprise consultants, Kerala Startup Mission, and other State agencies promoting entrepreneurship.

The KSWDC plans to support 100 female-led enterprises in scaling up their businesses in the first year, create an advisory board comprising renowned women entrepreneurs to mentor and support emerging entrepreneurs, and host exhibitions and festival for entrepreneurs to showcase their products to consumers.