LABS has also developed innovative models for self-employment through micro-entrepreneurship programs, which encourage and nurture youth for entrepreneurship, and support their quest to develop new skills in self-enterprise. Two successful micro-entrepreneurship programs have been piloted so far – Aarogya and Corn’bytes.

Aarogya

Aarogya is a unique initiative in Andhra Pradesh that seeks to enhance the business of low-income mobile food vendors (MFVs), while also improving the quality of food at the eateries through clean water and hygienic practices. DRF has trained 75 MFVs in Karimnagar Municipality in hospitality, customer service, money management and soft skills.

The Municipality supplies safe drinking water to the MFVs, and has also assigned specific parking places for them. Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences has trained

the MFVs in health and sanitation practices, and gives them regular health check-ups. Financial support for refurbishing the pushcarts has been provided by various banks.

There is a popular demand to extend the ‘Aarogya’ cover to all MFVs in the town. It is proposed to shortly scale up the project to include 200 beneficiaries in the Serilingampally and LB Nagar Municipalities of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

Corn’ bytes

DRF has networked with various organizations in both the government and private sectors to locate thekiosks in public places, where they are assured of a steady stream of customers. Bank loans have been arranged for the beneficiaries under priority sector lending.

It is proposed to extend the Corn’bytes initiative to include 200 beneficiaries in 2007-08, and later scale it up to cover 1000 beneficiaries in 2008-09. It is also proposed to enhance their business by including other value-added products like soups, coffee and fruit juices.