Organization
SAKHI RETAIL PRIVATE LIMITED
Mission
Sakhi Retail aims to empower rural women as entrepreneurs to create wide reaching impact by:
1. Providing entrepreneurial skills and market based opportunities for women.
2. Creating a marketing and distribution network that reaches out socially relevant solutions.
Organizational Expertise
Climate/Environment, Marketing, Technology and Fuel R&D
Other Organizational Expertise
Sakhi retail aims at acting as facilitators between the rural women entrepreneurs (SAKHIs) and public and private institutions to incubate and market product solutions which go a long way towards improving the health and well being of indian rural households by distributing high – quality; affordable goods and appliances to places where they are least accessible.
Technologies & Fuels
Biogas, Biomass (Ag. Residue, Processed Biomass, etc.), Pellets / Briquettes, Solar
Other Technologies Fuels
We are interested in partnering with organizations involved in the promotion of clean energy based products in rural India.
Clean Cooking Activities
Milestones so far:
2005 Creation of Oorja Stove – With the help of Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) and Bharat Petroleum (BP – A leading petroleum company in India) Energy executives began meeting with the locals to ascertain their needs.
They realized there was a need for a product that could replace smoky and soot-filled cooking using firewood – the people required a cheap, non-smoky alternative. The result was the Oorja stove, designed by students of the IISC Bangalore.
2007 - Establishment of Retail Companies – Rural women were involved from scratch – creating awareness, taking orders, delivering the stove. Adharam Energy, which became BP's exclusive partner in selling the Oorja stove and fuel was formed.
2010 Expansion- Brand positioning and building – Sakhi Retail expanded to four more districts in Maharashtra – Nanded, Sholapur, Beed and Latur. Moreover, they also partnered with Godrej to market its mini-coolers (CHOTUKOOL) - The product is for storing essential commodities like fruits and vegetables. Our Sakhis contributed to the development of both the products by giving active feedback to the manufactures at all stages of prototyping on what the rural consumers and the women in particular really want.
2011 -2012:
• We are currently partnering with leading organizations like
1. First Energy : Biomass stoves and pellets.
2. Water purifiers: Eureka Forbes.
3. Mini fridge : Godrej and Boyce
4. Solar Water heaters : Honeywell
5. Solar home lighting solutions: SELCO
6. Portable LED Lanterns: D Light
7. Organic growth promoters and fertilizers.
• We have set up our own biomass pelletiser plant at Osmanabad; in collaboration with First Energy for the manufacturing 500 kilograms of pellets per day. These bio mass pellets are the fuel that is used by the OORJA stove being marketed by us in Collaboration with First Energy.
• Set up a water treatment plant for supplying clean portable water at Latur in partnership with Eureka Forbes currently selling more than 100 bottles per day.
Impact to Date
1. More than 33 % income growth per retail entrepreneur was ensured in the last year.
2. Sakhi's earn an average of Rs. 1000 per month.
3. Grassroots franchising results in more profits from business staying in communities and being spent in communities.
4. Higher community incomes translate into additional business opportunities.
5. Over 65 % acquired health/ life insurance.
6. Over 25% reinvested in Sakhi Retail.
Partnership
We have an existing network of 850 sakhi's currently partnering with us through our distribution network for marketing and selling clean energy products across Maharastra and Bihar. We aim at increasing our network to 1850 women in the next three years, It is with this experience of establishing and implementing a unique women self driven rural distribution model that we wish to bring to the network partners both institutional and product partners who are open to partnerships that are synonymous to our mission of creating 1850 clean energy women entrepreneurs over the next three years.
Regions Operating In
South Asia
Country Based In
India
Address
C/O SWAYAM SHIKSHAN PRAYOG
SAMTA COLONY; SAMTA NAGAR
OSMANABAD, MAHARASTRA 413501
Website
Primary Point of Contact
Name: Mr. UPMANYU PATIL
Title: CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER; DIRECTOR
Email: upmanyupatil@gmail.com
Phone: (860) 501-6700
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