Profile of Successful Entrepreneurs

For Ramesh Chandra Pradhan of Khandiabandh, Gopinathpur, and Puri district, decorating for social gatherings and family functions is not new. It is his family business. But the innovative way he managed his decoration business after his training in IED, is exemplary.
On a visit to DIC, Ramesh was informed that an EDP orientation in IED would help him to change his business plan to suit the modern needs of decoration. He applied and was enrolled in the training program at IED. His training over, he sat down with his mentors in IED and prepared a good business plan. He submitted this planning proposal of Rs 10 lakh to the Oriental Bank of Commerce which considered and approved a loan of Rs. 7.5 lakh.

Having money in his account and business idea ready, Ramesh plunged into business. He employs 20 persons with an emphasis on gender (10 females) in his business. Because of his new orientation in designing decoration, his business has been growing. He is currently reaping good profit from his business.
Ramesh has shown the way to youngsters how the innovative ways of doing the same business can not only lead to business expansion but profits too.

After marriage, Sandhya Rani Barisal of Patrapada, Bhubaneswar, realized that in a large family of 10 members, it is not easy to thrive without doing some business. In any case, most adult members of this big family have been doing some individual business. She wanted to get into a business that would not only bring her additional income but would use waste products. In a way, it was her dream to produce wealth from waste. She got an opportunity to undergo training in Entrepreneurship Development at the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (IED), Bhubaneswar. Their determination and dedication to achieve something backed by knowledge from IED helped her to execute a carefully developed business plan.

After consultation with experts and discussing with family members, she applied for a loan from Andhra Bank, with a project cost of Rs 25 lakhs, which was duly approved. She finally set up a fly-ash brick unit with the required equipment and some skilled personnel. Her husband and brother extended their supporting hands. She employs 24 people. The unit is running well with bank finance. She is regularly repaying the bank loan installments. The current level of demand for her products provides her with normal profit. But as the recovery of construction work has already been visible, she wants to expand her production capacity to meet future demand.

Financial inclusion can help people sitting at the poverty line fence and make them entrepreneur. Narasingh Behera had to discontinue his studies due to his family’s poor financial conditions. In order to supplement family income,he worked as a helper in a roadside snacks shop. But with a good mind and ability to learn, he soon fully understood the composition of ingredients and the process of preparation of different sweets and snacks. He made up his mind to set up a business. He accessed some loans from relatives and friends and started a small unit for manufacturing sweets and snacks.

With his good manners and smiling face, he won over the hearts of his customers. He started making around Rs. 15000 per month, many times more than the wages received when he was working as a helper. After realizing the potential of his business and going through EDP training conducted by IED where he sharpened his business skills, he applied for a project loan from SBI, Sakshigopal, which is now under active consideration.
He intends to expand his business to all the districts of Odisha through a supply chain of his products. He is happy that his involvement in business has resulted in direct employment of five persons while bringing him decent income.

Sunil Kumar Rout of VSS Nagar, Bhubaneswar, with a degree in telecom engineering, was associated with MNCs like Vodafone, ATC, and American Telecom Tower Corporation in different job roles. But he was not satisfied with his career. He had a desire to become an entrepreneur, doing something on his own and creating employment opportunities for others. He was also supported by his father, wife, other family members and teachers, who encouraged him to take forward his inner desire.
He visited District Industries Centre, Bhubaneswar and met the officials. He came to know from them about the EDP training conducted by IED, Bhubaneswar, who also recommended him to join the programme. He joined the EDP programme at IED and successfully completed the programme. The trainers at IED helped him to contact PNB branch who liked his ideas and advised him to prepare a project report and submit for scrutiny. PNB approved his proposal and sanctioned Rs 7.25 lakh as loan.

He procured necessary machines and equipments, hired technical and general staff and started production of paper craft products. He did not face any problem for marketing the product, since he had made his own market survey before setting up the unit.

Within three months of operation, he attained financial break even. Currently he is making adequate profit. As per his business plan he would be earning around Rs. 40,000/- per month after paying off the debt. He is satisfied with the returns. With his excellent client orientation, he is confident to be a market leader in his area of business.

This 30 year old young man of Odia Matha Gali, Baseli Sahi, Puri, with a Bachelor Degree in Commerce, tried for a number of years to get a decent job. But that was not to be. Instead of getting frustrated like many of his genre, he decided to help weak students through online assistance for a small fee.
He travelled to several places in India to learn online training techniques and the quality of equipment and software services needed to executing training/coaching for students with varied level of requirements. He got a chance to undergo EDP programme conducted by IED and understood the basics of business. He prepared a business plan worth Rs. 7.00 lakh which was duly approved by UCO Bank, Puri.

Madan Mohan is now a successful entrepreneur. He has employed a young lady and two young men with requisite knowledge and experience to provide coaching which he himself designs and prepares.
He is happy with the income he receives (monthly around Rs. 25,000) from his business after meeting all costs including debt service. He is a modern business man having an aim to grow exponentially in next five years.

Jagannath Sahoo, Dumduma, Bhubaneswar had a passion for music and composition. He made up his mind to set up a company of his own using his taste for music. He joined the EDP training course provided by IED, Bhubaneswar to firm up his ideas. The two-week course and interaction with co-trainees and faculty helped him to prepare a project proposal to provide services in music including sound systems and videography.

His proposal was considered by PNB which sanctioned him Rs 9.45 lakh on easy terms. He used the amount to procure machines, equipments, and accessories for his company. He recruited seven persons including three female employees. He is committed to the customer’s need for audio and video systems.

He takes orders from reputed companies for various programmes. He earns good income from private functions and festival activities.
He earns a decent net income of Rs. 20000 per month after meeting all his expenses including loan repayment. On festive times, his net income goes up to Rs 50,000/- per month, good enough to announce incentives for his employees. His patience and perseverance, two important aspects of entrepreneurship that he learnt from EDP course, stands him in good stead.

In modern days, many educated young men do not prefer to continue in their traditional family business. But Rabi Narayan Achary is different from others. He hails from a goldsmith family with business running in his blood line. While his friends in his age group were busy in searching for suitable jobs, Rabi was busy looking for an opportunity to expand his family business. He got an opportunity to undergo training on entrepreneurship development at the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development, Bhubaneswar. There he learnt the basics of business, which was a good foundation for him. He got a good project report prepared with the help of an expert, approached the local branch of a nationalized bank and was happy to know that the Punjab National Bank sanctioned a loan of Rs 22.50 lakh.

With this new source of capital, he expanded his show room, recruited ornament designers, who can design new concepts for young customers. His turnover has trebled in just one year plus. He has been paying regularly his monthly instalments to PNB and providing regular salaries to his artisans. He has taken a risk of competing with the best jeweller groups operating in Odisha. And for this risk taking, he is being amply rewarded in the form of returns. He is considered as a successful entrepreneur.

Not long ago, the state of Odisha was one of the leading producers of jute in India. But with the introduction of man-made fibre, importance of jute declined. However, in recent years, jute’s importance has been revived as a major raw material for strategic interventions, utility products as well as art products. This change of perspective has provided those who have innovative ideas to exploit existing markets and create new markets for various jute products.
Sasmita Sethi of Mahavir Basti, D.L. Colony, VSS Nagar of Bhubaneswar, comes from a disadvantaged community. She belongs to SC category. “Adventure”, a group working as NGO, discovered Sasmita’s interest in jute products and her desire to become an entrepreneur. Adventure encouraged her to go through a training course on entrepreneurship development, so that she could gather better knowledge about starting of a new venture.

Although the investment is small, she is earning good income per month varying between Rs 10,000/- to Rs. 15,000/-. This is, after paying salary to five lady artisans, who have been producing quality jute products. Her products are well recognized and procured by businessmen from her door steps.
She has the potential to expand her business. She may require some handholding at the time of business expansion. And IED is ever willing to help!

Nirmal Chandra Mallick of Niladri Vihar, Bhubaneswar, like most educated, joined LIC after his post-graduate studies. But he felt that he did not quite fit into the job.. He was trying for a better alternative. He read an advertisement about the training programme conducted by IED, Bhubaneswar. He applied and was selected for the EDP course. After successful completion of training, he applied for a loan from Punjab National Bank to establish a cyber café. His proposal was approved and he was sanctioned Rs. 9.5 lakh.
With his prior knowledge of computers and internet, he procured the required equipments and set up his unit. He started providing advice to his customers as and when they asked for it.

He added subsequently, a few additional facilities to expand his business and to cater to the needs of his expanding clientele. He is also publishing a fort-nightly magazine, Jana Samasya, having local circulation.
He is earning around Rs 50,000/- per month after meeting all expenses. This is a decent income from business with small investment. He has employed two assistants in his establishment.

Sunil Kumar Rout of VSS Nagar, Bhubaneswar, with a degree in telecom engineering, was associated with MNCs like Vodafone, ATC, and American Telecom Tower Corporation in different job roles. But he was not satisfied with his career. He had a desire to become an entrepreneur, doing something on his own and creating employment opportunities for others. He was also supported by his father, wife, other family members and teachers, who encouraged him to take forward his inner desire.
He visited District Industries Centre, Bhubaneswar and met the officials. He came to know from them about the EDP training conducted by IED, Bhubaneswar, who also recommended him to join the programme. He joined the EDP programme at IED and successfully completed the programme. The trainers at IED helped him to contact PNB branch who liked his ideas and advised him to prepare a project report and submit for scrutiny. PNB approved his proposal and sanctioned Rs 7.25 lakh as loan.

He procured necessary machines and equipments, hired technical and general staff and started production of paper craft products. He did not face any problem for marketing the product, since he had made his own market survey before setting up the unit.

Within three months of operation, he attained financial break even. Currently he is making adequate profit. As per his business plan he would be earning around Rs. 40,000/- per month after paying off the debt. He is satisfied with the returns. With his excellent client orientation, he is confident to be a market leader in his area of business.

Sunil Kumar Rout of VSS Nagar, Bhubaneswar, with a degree in telecom engineering, was associated with MNCs like Vodafone, ATC, and American Telecom Tower Corporation in different job roles. But he was not satisfied with his career. He had a desire to become an entrepreneur, doing something on his own and creating employment opportunities for others. He was also supported by his father, wife, other family members and teachers, who encouraged him to take forward his inner desire.
He visited District Industries Centre, Bhubaneswar and met the officials. He came to know from them about the EDP training conducted by IED, Bhubaneswar, who also recommended him to join the programme. He joined the EDP programme at IED and successfully completed the programme. The trainers at IED helped him to contact PNB branch who liked his ideas and advised him to prepare a project report and submit for scrutiny. PNB approved his proposal and sanctioned Rs 7.25 lakh as loan.
He procured necessary machines and equipments, hired technical and general staff and started production of paper craft products. He did not face any problem for marketing the product, since he had made his own market survey before setting up the unit.

Within three months of operation, he attained financial break even. Currently he is making adequate profit. As per his business plan he would be earning around Rs. 40,000/- per month after paying off the debt. He is satisfied with the returns. With his excellent client orientation, he is confident to be a market leader in his area of business.

Credit must go to the young lady Trupti Sahu, who after her graduation and marriage, tried to help her parent’s large family. The family liabilities were increasing day by day, since, her father, who was in Govt Service, was the lone income earner for the family. Her family was frantically trying for a decent life. She made a resolve to start a business so that, with additional income, she would help in marriage of her four younger sisters, besides improving her own financial and social status.
Learning from different sources about the EDP training programme conducted by IED, she grabbed the opportunity and got herself trained in the programme. She started her production unit of plastic items with a project cost of Rs. 10 lakh, in Matiapara, Chaura Chhaka, Puri.
The Oriental Bank of Commerce, Puri approved her proposal and sanctioned a loan for Rs. 8 lakh. She procured automated machines by using the bank loan that can produce quality products (Homeopathy medicine bottles & moulded plastic items). She employs 8 male and 19 female workers, who help her in production and marketing of products. Through strict supervision and quality control, she easily sells her products and earns enough revenue to pay bills, carry out debt servicing and earn revenue of around Rs. 35,000/- p.m.
She has a vision to give employment to 100 needy persons by increasing the scale of her business to make a profit of Rs. 1 lakh p.m. She is a role model for girls in her locality.

Persons in similar socio-economic background have different level of business achievement mostly due to differences in their capability to identify opportunities and to exploit them. Although just secondary school educated, Shashanka Sekhar Nayak is a young man with a lot of drive. He came from a poor economic and financial background. He identified the products, he would trade. He made his home town, the place of marketing his products. He participated a training course conducted by IED at Puri and started his business Mahavir Brass Work.

While the IED training provided him with foundational knowledge, he got a good project report prepared and submitted it to Bank of Maharashtra, Puri, a local branch which considered and sanctioned an amount of Rs 7.5 lakh, which included adequate working capital. He opened two outlets for selling fancy brass items procured from distant markets.

Puri, being the citadel of Lord Jagannath, visited by large number of Hindu devotees throughout the year, it offered a good prospect for sale of his products. His business became successful as he ensured procurement of high quality products and offered those products with low margin and increased his turnover. He currently employs 7 persons, six male and a female, engaging them on various assignments, near Sri Jagannath temple and Sri Gundicha temple. He has started paying bank loan. Currently after meeting all expenses, he is earning around Rs.45,000/- per month. He is working towards sustainability of his business. He hopes to get handholding support at the time of crisis in future.
Being able to take risk and manage his business in a visibly efficient way, he has been recognized as a business leader in his trade.

He came to know from a friend about facilities available to young persons in urban areas to become entrepreneur under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). To confirm and to know in detail, Himanshu Sekhar Srichandan of Puri town, contacted DIC and IED, wherefrom he learnt about EDP programme. He enrolled in IED for training and successfully completed it.
He wanted to utilize fly-ash to make bricks, which are eco-friendly. But he needed substantial amount for investment. His capacity to mobilise from his own source the minimum prescribed amount was severely constrained. Yet he did not back out. After consultation with trainers in IED, he got a project report prepared and submitted it to Bank of India, Puri for a loan of Rs 10 lakh. The project was bankable and Bank of India sanctioned it.

He has procured the machinery after identifying location for his unit. The factory is almost complete. Himanshu is getting ready to start production soon. He intends to provide employment to at least 12 persons, while having full time employment for him. The market has good demand for fly-ash bricks. Himanshu has already become an entrepreneur. He is determined to manage his business well to earn reasonable profit.

Coming from a poor family of the neighbouring district of Khurdha, this 8th class pass, through his indomitable spirit, has become a model entrepreneur providing service greatly in demand by the youth. Bhobani Nayak, with some basic training in music from Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack, applied for an EDP course in IED. Getting selected, he seriously took his courses and successfully completed his training. During this short period, he interacted with fellow trainees, faculty and staff and put searching questions on business for discussion. By the time he finished his training, he made up his mind to enter into entertainment industry providing light and sound facilities in Bhubaneswar and nearby areas.

He established Baba Dutikeswar DJ Light and Sound, an enterprise with eight employees, six male and two females. For this he was assisted by Syndicate Bank with a loan of Rs 2 Lakh and IED for coordination at critical times.
He is now a successful business man, organising and providing his services to the liking of his clients while getting reasonable return on his investment. He is considered as a youth leader by the young people of his locality having liking for the music. He wants to provide entertainment to larger audience while earning decent income.

She wanted to earn some additional income by utilising her time freed from household work. A training in IED made Mrs. Reeta Roy an entrepreneur, despite poor financial base and low level of education. Reeta of Kalyanpur, Phulnakhara got to know about IED from a known person and applied for training. During her interactions in training sessions, she made up her mind to set up a small unit to manufacture made- to- order dresses for babies and school going children. She acquired the skills of dress designing and recruited four female tailors who had some previous experience as designers too.
Established as Barsha Readymade Garments, with an initial investment of Rs 4 lakh, of which Rs 3.5 lakh was financed by the Indian Overseas Bank, the unit has been manufacturing beautiful dresses, made-to-order, mostly catering to the needs of the local area. Yet it is earning enough to pay for the women employed while retaining a good amount to pay the bills and earn reasonable profit.

Customers are happy too as they get choicest dresses for their children at reasonable prices. Reeta, while financially helping her family, has decided to expand her unit with additional investment in new tailoring machines and other equipment. Her success in business has attracted other women in the area to try their hands in enterprises.

For young Mahesh, becoming police personnel was the dream. While pursuing his studies, he tried his best to have a goodphysique. Despite his efforts, he failed to get into the police service. He was not disappointed. He enrolled himself for the EDP training course in IED. He discussed with his trainers his ideas to become an entrepreneur. Taking into account his interest and acumen, he was suggested during training, to consider getting into a restaurant business in Puri. And there he was, ready with his business plan, to be proposed to the Oriental Bank of Commerce.

The bank scrutinized his plan, held an interactive discussion with him and sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for the venture. Mahesh opened his business, M/S Nawab Rasoi, in Puri with just Rs 25,000/- as initial own capital. His business with 10 male and a female worker provides high quality healthy meal and snacks at reasonable price. With a monthly turnover of Rs. 1.5 lakh, he makes adequate profit after payment of wages and salaries to his employees.
He thinks that the opportunity that he picked up is due to the excellent support he got from IED faculty and management.

As a home maker Reetanjali Patra of GGP Colony, Bhubaneswar was happy. A small news about IED training completely changed her perspective. She decided to learn some techniques of business and enrolled herself as a trainee in IED during 2016-17. Here she discussed with faculty members possibilities of getting into business and the alternatives that she would face in the competitive tiny and small sector. By the time she finished her course, she decided that she would be in the furniture industry in a slightly different way.

She visited the modern furniture stores and noted down the style and utility of each piece of furniture and their respective prices. She prepared a project proposal in consultation with her faculties. She visited DIC, potential bankers, and made a small projection about the market demand. Her plan was to manufacture utility quality furniture with at least 20% less than the comparative market price. Her plan was approved by the Indian Overseas Bank for a loan amount of Rs. 20 lakh, her own contribution in equity being Rs 5 lakh. Her husband who was a carpenter became a good partner to study market designs, procure quality raw materials and supervise manufacturing including finishing of products.

Acknowledging that being an entrepreneur she faces huge risk, she is determined to carry on business and show her excellence. Her custom-made products have good demand and with lower margin and high turnover, she has started getting handsome profit while employing 20 skilled and unskilled workers and paying back her loan instalments. Although in the initial year of her business, she has made a plan for sustainable development of her enterprise. She gives due credit to IED for expanding her horizon of a home-maker to an empowered business entrepreneur.

Leaving a corporate sector job with thirteen years of experience in iron and steel sector, Sumanta Kumar Sahoo of Kalinga Vihar, Bhubaneswar took a decision to become an entrepreneur producing hollow-cement block construction bricks. The decision was not easy. His participation in a course on youth entrepreneurship development in IED Bhubaneswar, strengthened his resolve to take the risk. The doubts that he had in his mind vanished after he attended the course. The promise that he got from the Institute to hold his hand at the time of need during the project cycle made him think that he has been already empowered. And thereafter, he whole heartedly plunged into the venture.

With just Rs. 1.25 lakh seed capital, he started the unit investing Rs. 20 lakh in fixed capital and Rs. 5 lakh as working capital. With a very high loan component (Rs. 23.75 Lakh), he adopted a strategy to have the best available proven technology and skilled personnel. He himself supervised input supply and operations. He is now a successful entrepreneur, earning between 80,000 to 90,000 rupees per month. Because he himself supervises the operations and ensures supply of good quality products, the demand from construction industry for his products is quite high. He intends to expand his operation soon.

From a diploma holder in electrical engineering and a technician in a corporate house, with much lower than his expectation about his salary, he has become a full-fledged entrepreneur, a risk taker. He is currently providing employment to 10 persons, all female. He has been repaying his loan instalments regularly and banks in his area are eager to provide him adequate finance for expanding his business.

He says, thanks to guidance received during his training in IED and follow up advice, as and when he needs. The young people in his area are looking forward to him. He thanks his trainers in the Institute and the government functionaries for helping him in his earnest endeavour.

For Sabita Subhadarshan, of Jharpada, Bhubaneswar, being recognized by the government as an entrepreneur, is a dream come true. This transformation was the result of her own strong will, her capacity building coming through a training programme in the Institute of Enterpreneurship Development (IED), Bhubaneswar, and the facilitation done by the Institute for finance needed for the business.

She chose to produce incense sticks which have good local demand. With a small financial investment of just Rs. 3 lakh, she produces incense sticks in her own enterprise Divya Industries. She markets quality products and earns Rs. 7,000/- per month as a net income. This business she does at her free time in between her engagement as a home-maker. It may seem unbelievable. But she has given employment to six persons, three male and three female, who earn to improve financial status of their families.

She is confident and now planning to expand her business to go beyond the local market. Is definitely a source of inspiration for many who have a dream to be an entrepreneur.

A qualified person- Chandan Chatterjee completed ITI from Kupajal Institute, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from CV Raman College and Training from CTTC, Bhubaneswar. From his student life he had a passion towards understanding and working with technologies. He used to repair different machineries and do maintenance of machine parts. Although his parents are service holders, he had a dream from childhood to establish an enterprise of his own.

The turning point came while he joined the EDP training under Institute of Entrepreneurship Development, Bhubaneswar. During training, he got an opportunity to visit MSME trade-fare at Exhibition Ground, Bhubaneswar. There he saw a machine for automatic paper cup. He made enquiries about the working of the machine, performance & the price etc. and impressed on the exhibitors not to take away the same from Bhubaneswar. He kept the machine in his place and after the training, he setup his own unit to produce the Eco-friendly paper cups.

Chandan has employed four persons apart from fruitfully engaging him in his business. He is happy with his current level of production and sales, which takes care of his own needs and repayment obligations. However, he has the high ambition of becoming an established industrialist, which will help him contribute to economic growth and employment generation, apart from his own enrichment.

The real heroes live amongst us. But they often go unnoticed till their efforts get recognized. They don’t make a fuss about difficulties, rather they find solutions to the problems, they face from time to time. They don’t look for excuses behind a failure, rather they work extra hard to make sure they overcome the challenges.

Prasant Kausik (24 years), a young entrepreneur is one of such heroes. He has come all the way from Delhi with his father Mr. Jogendra Kausik, mother Mrs Bimla Kausik and two sisters to set up his dream business at Pipili, in Puri district. After completion of B-Tech in Electrical Engineering, he got an opportunity to join in a good company with a high salary package in campus placement. But after few days of joining, he left the job because he was not satisfied with it.

Since, Prasant’s dreams were different and were always pushing him to start his own enterprise, his father Jogendra Kusik also inspired his son to start his own business. While planning for some business, he got opportunity to undergo an Entrepreneurship Development training at Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (IED), Bhubaneswar. There he met Sri B.B. Mishra sir of IED Odisha who guided him to set up his coir unit on availing loan assistance under Coir Udyami Yojana (CUY). He used his father’s past work experience as a Mechanical Engineer and took his advices regarding investment, return on investment etc.

Finally, after market survey, research and analysis on coir, he he decided to set up his own defibering enterprise at Siriapur, Pipli with investment of Rs 45 lakh. He could avail Rs 10.00 Lakh as loan under Coir Udyami Yojana (CUY) of Coir Board. Prasant’s unit is doing well, producing coir fiber from coconut husk. His unit is the main source of raw material for other micro enterprises producing yarn, coir rope, broom, coir dust etc., both locally and outside, providing employment to 17 people (male and female)

He was comfortable helping in family business of selling sweetmeat, without much effort. But he had a desire to have an enterprise of his own. The EDP course gave this young man Bishnu Prasad Sahoo, the opportunity to be the owner entrepreneur in a coir unit, in his native place, Teisipur, Puri.

After his training, during which, he learnt about the coir industry, the technology, production process and marketing, where to get credit and how to manage them all to earn profit, he started a small unit borrowing Rs. 1 lakh from a bank. He purchased and installed the machinery, got electricity connection, hired five workers, three female and two male, and started production.

He does not have to go anywhere for selling his products, door mats and coir ropes. Customer business men come to his factory and pick up the product by paying cash. Although just a year old, his annual turnover is around Rs 10 lakh and a net profit of Rs 1.80 lakh, which in the local area, is considered as decent income for a beginner. He is in the process of additionally investing Rs. 2 lakh which would more than treble his production and sales.
He is fulfilling the twin objective of providing employment with gender equity while spreading the positive results of government policy of inclusive development.

One usually comes across craft persons who produce excellent handicraft products but remain poor due to low value realization of their creations. Here is a case of a craftsman, who with managerial training from IED, becomes an entrepreneur and earns a decent income from business.

Kishore Chandra Dora and his spouse are both crafts persons. Kishore, after his EDP training in IED, got the idea of doing business in an innovative way. He decided that he would showcase his products, which are unique, in local market, and state level and national level Tradefairs. He approached a bank for financial assistance and ensured adequate inventory to maintain supply. Participation in several Tradefairs helped him and his spouse to get wider recognition for their products resulting in increased demand.

With a bank loan of Rs. 5 lakh, which includes working capital, he is getting a net average monthly income of Rs. 25,000/-. It is considered as a decent level of earning for a beginner in small business. He has been repaying his loan instalments to bank without fail. What is more important, he has provided employment to 13 persons, 10 female and three male artisans, who would eventually graduate to higher levels with acquired skills.

Innovative way of doing business, which he learnt in the IED training, has helped him to be a successful entrepreneur.

She managed her household with financial difficulty. Her husband’s income from selling aluminum utensils was not adequate. With just an HSC certificate and no knowledge about business, she was feeling exasperated to think how to get out of this situation. At this juncture, one of her friends advised her that she has the necessary drive of an entrepreneur and she should try to embark on a career as an entrepreneur. After some initial inquiries, she applied for the EDP course at IED, Bhubaneswar. She was selected for the training. And that was the beginning of her career as an entrepreneur.

As she had some idea about utensils, she prepared a project proposal with the help of IED, accessed a loan of Rs 7 lakh from Vijay Bank, Puri and established her unit, Sri Hari Narayan Metal. She procured machinery, deployed skilled and semi-skilled workers and started producing utensils in her own factory.

Her husband helps her in the marketing of products and collection of revenues. All her workers are very hard working and honest.
She supervises production as well as marketing activities. With strict supervision, output per worker is also very high. After loan servicing, payment to the workers, and expenditure towards input supplies, she makes an earning of around Rs. 65,000/- per month. She has given employment to 7 persons. She is optimistic to enhance the business to a new high making an earning of more than Rs. 2.00 lakhs per month.