Bee-ing a Responsible Edu-preneur
Write-up for President Dr. Ashwani Lochan for May 2022 Edition for the AUS’S DIGEST.
Mahatma Gandhi in his book Young India wrote – “Millions of women in our hamlets know what unemployment means… Give them access to economic activities and they will have access to power and self-confidence to which they hitherto have been strangers.”
On May 29, 2022, as a mission to contribute to the Rural Entrepreneurship Development, AUS sponsored the distribution of bee hives to 45 women. Organised by the ArSRLM’s Namsai BMMU under the NRLM, in collaboration with the University, the programme saw the participation of 45 members of different SHGs of the district. These courageous SHG women underwent a 3-week intense scientific beekeeping programme session. I, took the noble honour of being invited to the event and distributing their parting gifts – the bee hives, wishing them a great future ahead in being female entrepreneurs.
This is not the first time that AUS endures such noble ventures. Under the sponsorship of World Education Mission AUS has always been upfront in giving equal access to education, and livelihood resources irrespective of any societal section. The campus has become the home ground to many social initiatives that has empowered thousands and thousands of students and individuals.
On a personal level, it has always been my motive to empower women in particular. We may think that it is the 21st century – living in the heights of modernity and at technology’s disposal. However, there are still many places around the world, especially India where we need to understand that upliftment of women is more important than giving equal access to education at this moment. The right to education is the fundamental human right of any Indian. But given the cultural circumstances, I believe it is more and more important to educate people around this country on letting women impart education by going to school and colleges. Because it makes their life better, raises the standard of their lives, and also directly or indirectly improves the economy of this country.
When this initiative was brought to my notice to help the SHG women I realise that I am opening my doors to endless possibilities. I was more than happy to witness the 3-week training happening in the campus of AUS. Self Help Group (SHG) is an informal community of people who gather together to find ways to improve their living conditions. They are self-governed in general. However, for some weaker and backward economic classes, many NGOs and social agencies come into the picture to help them have a better chance at livelihood. If we talk about India SHGs were formed way back in the year 1972 with the formation of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA).
Women make up nearly half of our population. Due to old traditions and culture even today their participation in education and work is limited – which we need to change. It’s not just within families. Even at workplaces, there’s potent discrimination making a low recorded influx of female workers participation in the country. I read the data a few days back that in the 1990 census the female labour participation in this country was 30.3%. But in 2021 the participation was just 22.3%. It’s getting worst with time. I really wanted to work on this and eradicate the social stigma that limits women from Working and earning with dignity. I wanted to spread awareness of female entrepreneurs by challenging the socio-cultural complexities by giving resources and access to opportunities.
Beekeeping is a very low investment venture but the results are worth the time and energy. This industry has a lot of potential not just for generating the economy but also for employing young female farmers and entrepreneurs to have a sustainable living. In the rural communities of Arunachal Pradesh, the art of beekeeping has been practised for centuries. For some communities, it is their main and supplementary source of income generation. They sell raw honey, make food and medicine and sell bee wax.
Environmentally speaking beekeeping also restores the lost charm of our food chain and its cycle. Bees are the source of our food. Without their pollination, none of us would have access to the food we eat. They are the most crucial part of our biodiversity and our survival depends on them. Arunachal Pradesh is rich in fruits and vegetable cultivation such as strawberries, cucumber, bamboo, pumpkin, almonds etc. The growth of these products depends on bees creating more beekeepers is the need of the hour.
Also to state the fact that India is amongst the major honey producers in the world. We stand along with Spain, Italy, Germany, the UK, and the USA. Our honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi initiated the “Sweet Kranti” mission in the year 2017. The implementation of the mission was developed skills for honey and bee processing, quality control parameters, Branding, marketing etc across the country.
Not just this, I am very much glad that Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Chowna Mein inspired me thoroughly. He has the vision to make Namsai, the state’s highest honey-producing district. He has been urging local farmers to come out and start beekeeping on an enormous scale. As a great believer in social change, I willingly decided to do what was in my capacity to make this mission a success.
It is just a little step towards respecting the agrarian society of Arunachal Pradesh and sustainably utilising the resources in generating employment, economic returns, forest conversation, and strengthening the livelihood of the tribal communities. World Education Mission is always standing at the tip of any initiatives wishing to open doors for endless possibilities.
Jai Hind.