Arul Mary

Don Bosco Non-Formal Technical Training Institute
Lalpahar, Chouldhari, Port Blair - 744103, Andamans

Arul Mary hails from a small village called Saithankadi in South Andamans and has a family of five members including her mother, 2 brothers and one sister. Her father passed away a few years back and her sister is married off. She now lives with her mother and 2 brothers. Her mother works in a rubber estate and has a meager income. The elder brother is married and has bought a jeep on loan and drives to earn a living. Being married, he looks after mainly his own family. The younger brother works at the Don Bosco Institute, as the Instructor for 2 wheeler vehicles. His salary is the main source of income for the survival of the family, since their mother is a daily ¬wager and as such is not a regular source of income.

Arul Mary had only minimum education and used to work in the rubber estate depending on the availability of work. The Don Bosco Non-Formal Technical Training Institute, which was started in the year 2006 for helping the tsunami affected people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, came to her aid as she joined the institute for a course on Food Processing which lasted for 3¬months. After finishing her course at the Institute she got her certificate but then she faced the difficulty of what to do next and how to do. Once again, the Institute extended its hands to help her as well as all those who passed together with her by setting up Sales Centers in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and also in Chennai to market the products that the trained students prepared. She was also encouraged by the Institute to start up her own small venture for which initially, money was advanced to her from the Institute which were later refunded when she got money through the sales of her products.

Institute run, Boys’ and Girls’ Hostel also order food items prepared by Arul on a regular basis. In this way, she has been successful in earning an average of Rs 2000/- every week. Deducting all the expenditure, she is able to save at least Rs. 1000/- per week.

She accredits all her success to the Don Bosco Institute.

Sukbhalang Swet

Sukbhalang Swet, a 22 years old youth of Lapalang village, in East Khasi Hills, of Shillong had to discontinue his studies due to his prolonged illness and financial constraints. His mother a single parent was a paralyzed for the last 5 years. Thus, both he and his elder sister discontinued their studies. His sister took up work as a bookbinder with a minimal wages. And he took up masonry as a job to support his family.

However, Sukbhalang had other interests. He wanted to do something on his own, like a small business, but was hesitant to take the step forward due to lack of support and opportunity. On 5 Oct 2006, he came across an advert about the Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programme organized by Don Bosco Technical School, Shillong in collaboration with NABARD, Shillong. He instantly approached the organizers and joined the four weeks REDP training. During the training, he interacted with various bankers and resource persons. The interaction with them turned out to be a tremendous source of motivation for him. He exclaimed that the exposure visit to Rural Resource Training Center, Umran offered a window for opportunities. He learnt the nuances and benefits of poultry rearing.

Soon after the REDP training, he decided to join the skill training at Kyrdem Kulai Govt. Veterinary (Poultry) Training Camp. He was determined to start a poultry unit of his own. He put in hard labour and extra effort to construct poultry shed on his own thereby saving the construction cost. With additional inputs he was able to buy poultry chicks and started rearing them.

When visited, Sukbhalang proudly showed his two batches of poultry ready to be sold in the market. He is now earning a steady income and he is quite satisfied with this job. He intends to enlarge and diversify his activities. He has already done a survey around the neighboring villages and foresees a scope for setting up a poultry feed outlet in addition to his poultry farm. Sukbhalang now, helps his sick mother at home and is able to earn his livelihood. He has now opened a bank account that he never dreamt of before. “I want to learn more on my own; I will go and seek financial aid from the bank only after I have enough knowledge on the trade. The journey to my dreams has just begun ", He concluded.

Somveer Singh

Somveer is from a middle class family. He lives at Ranaji Enclave which is about 4 kilometers away from Don Bosco Vocational Training Institute, Najafgarh, New Delhi, India. His father works as a building contractor of small houses at Najafgarh Area. When Somveer completed class XII he was wondering what to do next. Some of his friends informed him about the facilities available for youth at Don Bosco Vocational Training Institute. One day he came and visited the institute. He was impressed. But it was not the time of Admission. So he waited for few months. In July 2005 he took admission in the A.C. & Refrigeration Trade. He also went through a SKIP sponsored Entrepreneurship Training for 3 months at Don Bosco Vocational Training Institute, Najafgarh. He successfully completed his training in May 2006. At the completion of the training, he was assisted to find a job at Modern Business System as an A.C Mechanic. However, he worked there for six months only. Then he started his own business of repairing and servicing Air-conditioners and fridges.
When he started his own business in the 1st month he had an income of Rs.4,000.00 (Rupees four thousand only). Now he is earning about Rs. 30,000.00 (Thirty thousand) per month.
Somveer does not have a workshop of his own. Most of the Air-conditioners and fridges are repaired at site. In case they require further repairs, they are taken to a friend’s workshop.
Somveer says customer satisfaction is uppermost in his work and business. So he always charges about a hundred rupees less than the market rate for gas charging and for parts replaced. Even for servicing he gives a discount of about Rs.200.00 (two hundred only).
In the last years the institution also have enrolled many from the Tsunami affected regions and particularly Azhekal for various trades so that they could become earning members of their families.
The strong point of Somveer is his availability. His customers can call him at any time and he is available at all time (24x7). Most of his customers stay at Dwarka – Delhi’s biggest housing colony. He has also made Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) with 7 housing cooperatives.
Somveer has Annual Maintenance Contract with the following Housing Cooperatives of Dwarka, New Delhi:-Height tower, Gitanjali Enclave, Guru Apartment, Himachal Apartment, Ganga Apartment, Sidharth Gunj 1 year; Air Force Apartment 3 years
There is no big infrastructure, equipment or manpower involved in his business. He says his assets are:

• His 6 helpers (labourers)
• 7 tool kits
• A motorbike
• Mobile phone
• His visiting card
• The good will of his customers