The Amriteshwari AmritaSREE SHG started in 2008 with 12 members. Members collect coconuts from neighbouring areas, dehusk them and then sell them to individuals and grocery shops. The turnover is about six lakhs per month. Now the business makes Rs. 50,000 net profit per month.

Tea is bought wholesale from factories. During the tea season, the central AmritaSREE office purchases around 5,000 kilos of tea at wholesale prices. This is distributed to various clusters and attractively repacked. The packing and sale of tea powder provides a livelihood to many women.

Clusters in the Kozhikode District procure items in bulk from both the wholesale market and straight from the producers. Certain items, such as detergent powder, chilli powder, rice flour, turmeric powder and coriander powder, are produced by the clusters themselves. Each cluster produces one or two items, which are then distributed to all the shops […]