Rural Enterprises of India

The children run with frolic with their bare foots as they experience the softness of the green grass underneath. The pristine water gushes down the streams as  the fishes continue their downward journey. A huge peepal tree provides shade as many sit beneath. The goats bleat in ecstasy as the cow continues to feed on the grass. The scarecrows stand tall and stout as the lush green crops wave about it. The air here has a freshness which is unique. Ah!!! the beauty of our villages.

As we continued our journey from Goa to Mangalore, we passed many a villages. We decided to stop at such villages and interact with the locals there to understand and help them in matters  related to rural enterprises. Today agricultural land has become scarce so it has become important to find new sources of income for the rural areas in India. Our rural villages have a plethora of knowledge in terms of agriculture, herbal medicines, some unique art forms which if leveraged well can really help to build the economy. Development of enterprises in rural areas is important today as this can create entrepreneurs. Further entrepreneurship means alleviation of poverty, elimination of rising unemployment and control in migration.

As we stopped at the beautiful coastal villages and met the village head to discuss regarding micro enterprise we met many an inspiring individuals. One of them was Murugan. Murugan like many followed the herd and to better the income of his family moved to the city. In the hard life of city he toiled hard for days on end at the various construction sites. Though he toiled as hard as he could he felt dejected as he never could earn enough. All his earnings passed like grains of sands through his hand. His dream of improving his financial condition looked like a distant dream. Thus tired of the harsh life he returned back to his beautiful village of Kumta in Karnataka. As he pondered what he should do next a thought came to his mind. Thousands of cars, buses and trucks pass by the highway near his village day in an out. As people drive, the sun does take a toil on all and they look around for some refreshing drink to quench their thirst. So he started to sell the refreshing coconut water near the highway. Slowly his business started to grow and now he earns around twenty thousand per month. As the spending in villages is less today he has been successful in saving his money and has fulfilled his dream of seeing his daughter's well educated and settled in their lives.  As Murugan realised  this vast potential that villages offer he wishes to take this message further. In this regard he visits the city and talks with the villagers working there and tells them regarding the advantages of setting up enterprises in the village itself as this is much more lucrative. Thus Murugan is a true mentor in all rights as he has been earnestly working for the welfare of his village and village folks. Thus affecting and touching the lives of many.

Thus, after this inspiring meet with Murugan we were invigorated with exuding energy and thus motivated we headed to enterprising city of Mangalore.

Mangalore- The Port City

As the water  of the gigantic rivers of Netravati and Gurupura rivers moves away listlessly over many a stones it continues its passage slowly in the mouths of the gigantic Arabian sea while it  encircles the beautiful port city of Mangalore in the state of Karnataka. Mangalore also known as Mangaluru is the administrative headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district of South West Karnataka. As one walks down the streets of Mangalore with the sun shining at its prime, the tall trees of coconut and palms that lie abreast its streets cast their shadows out loud. As evening approaches a whirlpool of activity sets out in its beaches as the waves rise and fall with the motions of the tide.

Mangalore gets its name from Hindu deity Mangaladevi. Mangalore forms a potpourri of diversity as when one walks down the streets of Mangalore one can hear a cacophony of Tulu, Konkani, Beary and Kannada dialects. As night falls in the city of Mangalore the sound of drums reverberates the air as crowds throng to watch dance drama unique to Karnataka called Yakshagana. Pristine is the one word we can use while describing Mangalore as Mangalore is one of the most clean cityin India

Mangalore has been an important  shipbuilding center from the past. The Mangalore port is one of the most important ports of India. The Mangalore port is eight largest in terms of cargo handling. Mangalore port today manages 75% of export of coffee and cashew from India. Mangalore is also known as the banking capital as four nationalised bank were established here. Apart from this Mangalore has also been an important agricultural processing and industrial center. The major companies here are  Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd. (MCF), Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL), Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL), BASF, Bharati Shipyard Limited and Total Oil India Limited (ELF Gas).Today a lot of IT companies are also establishing offices in Mangalore due to the conducive  ecosystem of Mangalore. Thus, Mangalore today is steadily becoming  an important business center in India.

With an aim to further provide impetus  the burgeoning economy of Mangalore we head towards it next to mentor, learn and disseminate knowledge to the startups and SME’s there.