Patna: The Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (Jeevika), in association with Grant Thornton Bharat, organised a state-level workshop on “Livelihood best practices: Lakhpati didi” on Tuesday, focusing on strengthening women-led enterprises and creating sustainable market linkages.The workshop discussed individual and collective entrepreneurship models in agriculture, livestock and non-farm sectors, along with business planning, enterprise management and increasing the number of Lakhpati Didis.In her address, Jeevika additional chief executive officer Ananya Singh said establishing an enterprise was only the first milestone and the focus now should be on ensuring sustainable growth and profitability through effective market linkages. She said products made by Jeevika members needed to reach the right markets, at the right price and regularly.Singh highlighted Jeevika’s stitching units, saying a strong base of enterprises had been created in the sector, and efforts should now focus on connecting them with sustained markets and customers.Technical sessions by Grant Thornton Bharat officials covered farmer producer organisations, agricultural services, credit and market linkages, product development, skill training, common facility centres, buyer-seller meets and corporate linkages.Participants also discussed entrepreneurship opportunities in mushroom cultivation, poultry, vermicomposting, handloom and garment, besides livestock-based enterprises. The concluding sessions focused on business planning, storage, sales mechanisms and improving returns for women entrepreneurs.
