THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ayisha Palliyalin had successfully cleared the Class X equivalency exam of the Kerala Literacy Mission Authority and was wondering what to do next when she heard about the Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the State Resource Centre. Now, after successfully getting trained under the programme, the 52-year-old from Kalpetta in Wayanad is all set to inspire women in her neighbourhood to become entrepreneurs.
“Earlier, we only had an idea. Now, we have the courage and the awareness to start our own business venture,” said Ayisha who is also a councillor in Kalpetta municipality.
If Ayisha and her friends are ready to set foot in the world of entrepreneurship, Abobacker C, a 35-year-old from Nilambur in Malappuram and his friend Abdul Samad have already become successful entrepreneurs. The duo, who attended last year’s training programme of the State Resource Centre, had started a tour and event management company which is attracting visitors to the scenic and unexplored tourist spots in Nilambur.
“Our objective now is to encourage entrepreneurship among the beneficiaries of our adult literacy programme so that they can earn a livelihood on their own,” said M Sujay, director, Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority (KSLMA).
“Over 90 people, a majority of them women, have undergone training under the Entrepreneurship Development Programme in the last two years and many have already started their own ventures. The unique selling proposition of this programme is that it is based on extensive field visits and success stories of self-made entrepreneurs,” said C Swaraj, Associate Programme Coordinator of the State Resource Centre.
Most of the participants were either beneficiaries of the adult literacy programmes or training programmes of Jan Shikshan Sansthan and Mahila Samakhya Society, he said.