A fresh start for the underprivileged women
Delhi University students have started two campus projects to build entrepreneurial opportunities for the underprivileged women
With an aim to create entrepreneurs from among socially marginalised section of the society, students of Enactus Delhi College of Arts and Commerce (DCAC), Delhi University, have launched Project Vikalp and Project Adhikaar. The students have taken it upon themselves to address problems of economically weaker families in slums by empowering women.
Avish Bhatia, a second year B. Com (honours) student and head of Enactus DCAC, said, “Our projects have employed women residing in slums. Through our Project Vikalp, we are imparting professional training to these women to stitch bags which are subsequently sold on leading e-commerce websites. In Project Adhikaar, women are trained to drive so that they can be employed as cab drivers. We have also received support from NGOs and cab companies.”
The student volunteers also conduct marketing and business strategy classes for the budding entrepreneurs. “Through these classes, we aim to polish their communication skills, marketing skills, business development and financial literacy,” said second year student Prakriti Arora.
Under Project Adhikaar, five women have already been placed with cab companies as professional drivers. “We not only help them with training and placement but also with licence formalities. This has really boosted their confidence and now more and more women want to join our projects,” said Shivangi Jalan, second year English (honours) student.