Babubhai is a 37 year old married man whose major occupation was agricultural labour. As drought conditions had prevailed for the last 3-4 years, income from labour was very poor and so was the yield of crops. To support the household, his wife also engaged in agriculture labour. They somehow managed to run their family with the meagre income. Babubhai had been contemplating doing some business, but didn’t have any idea as to what to do or how to go about it.

ICECD had organized a Gram Sabha (village meeting) in his village where discussions were held on livelihood options and improving the quality of life. Babubhai was an interested listener to these discussions. He later came to ICECD and his enthusiasm and eagerness towards starting his own enterprise made ICECD select him for the Entrepreneurship Development Programme. Since he was not skilled in any particular trade, the specific enterprise to be taken up by him was still to be decided. ICECD trainers advised him to do a market survey and explore the opportunities available for him.

The market survey revealed that there were very few grocery stores in the village, and the existing ones had been destroyed in the earthquake. He made a business plan for this project and studied the pros and cons of the business. He looked into aspects like the technique of running a business, the sources of materials required, calculation of profit and loss, marketing and selling skills etc.

He opened a grocery store by investing an amount of Rs.15,000 . Today he is able to earn Rs.2,000 to Rs.3,000 per month.

He claims, “Had there been no ICECD in the village, my dream of earning a good income would not have turned true. I now see a good future for my family”.