1. What are the key features of the Project Shakti? What are its positive aspects and what are its drawbacks?
Key features of Project Shakti:
• The project was started in 2001 with the aim of increasing the company’s rural distribution reach as well as providing rural women with income-generating opportunities.
• Villages with a population of about 2000-3000 are selected.
• Personnel from HUL approach self-help group (SHG).
• Selection of the Shakti Amma.
• HUL vouches for Shakti Ammas with banks from credit.
• One Shakti entrepreneur is appointed for one village & villages that are about 2 kilometers apart from her village.
• The Shakti dealer places initial orders worth Rs.15000(principal customer of HUL)
• The Shakti dealer organizes a “Shakti Day” in the village(display of products & free gifts)
• The recruitment of a Shakti Entrepreneur or Shakti Amma (SA) begins with the executives of HUL identifying from the uncovered village.
• The representative of the company meets the panchayat and the village head and identify the woman who they believe will be suitable as a SA.
• After training she is asked to put up Rs 20,000 as investment which is used to buy products for selling. The products are then sold door-to-door or through petty shops at home.
Positive Aspects:
• The Shakti entrepreneur program creates livelihood opportunities for underprivileged rural women.
• The Shakti Vani program works to improve the quality of life in rural India, by spreading awareness of best practices in health and hygiene.
• They are also studying the consumption habits of the rural people.
• The factories that HUL continued establishing in less-developed regions of the country have been engaged in developing rural market in adjacent villages.
• These factory-centered activities mainly focus on training farmers, animal husbandry, generating alternative income, health &