Case study

‘Amrut-Seva’

‘Parivar Spice Chai’, is proud to be associated with Seva Sahayog’s initiative – ‘Amrut-Seva’

Many of us may remember the roadside tea shops in the old Pune that were known as ‘Amrut-Tulya’ The name implies that the tea served at these tea stalls was so good, that it was comparable to ‘Amrut’ or the ‘Elixir of Life’. The story of the micro-enterprise support movement started by Seva Sahayog makes the quintessential cup of chai the ‘Elixir of Life’ in more ways than one!

It all started back in 2007, Seva Sahayog took a group of volunteers to the JP Nagar Slum (vasti) at Yerawada, Pune as part of one of the Seva Darshan Programs. This group of volunteers visited the study center, played with the kids and also were offered a cup of chai by Dighe Bhabhi, one of the vasti dwellers. “What a refreshing cup of tea” Exclaimed one of the volunteers… “I wish, we got such tea at our cafeteria everyday “ Dighe Bhabhi, an enterprising woman, did not want to miss this opportunity… she said.. “Why don’t you call me over there, and I’ll serve you tea everyday” . Never did she know, that this simple comment would start a movement to benefit many more women living in the vasti. The volunteers initiated the topic with the Facilities team at their office, and pushed for approval.

Dighe Bhabhi and team knew how to make excellent tea. But keeping accounts, managing supply demand, procuring equipment, getting a commercial gas connection, developing local vendors, etc. was a challenge. Sevasahayog volunteers conducted a demo on how to serve tea with a smile. They were taken to visit a couple of tea stalls. They came to know how difficult it is to manage a crowd, pouring hot tea and collecting cash at the same time when they went as apprentices to another tea stall for a week. There was a local competitor who served food, snacks and tea in the cafeteria to be dealt with Dighe bhabhi turned the competition into collaboration. Sevasahayog volunteers held

hand in Dighe Bhabhi’s journey from being a domestic worker to a micro entrepreneur. Today their monthly turnover is close to Rs. 60,000 with a 60% profit margin. The women share this profit. The remarkable change in their monthly earning has changed the quality of their lives. Their daughters are now going to college and husbands support them in their activity. The women in the group stand in for each other in times of difficulty and have not remained absent for a single working day. They have developed unique bonds with employees to the extent that everything from project wins to lunch boxes is shared with Dighe Bhabhi. Now, more women want to participate and setup such enterprises. Seva Sahayog has pledged to take this movement forward through the ‘Self Help Group’ concept which lends itself better to holistic development.

‘Parivar Spice Chai’, is an all natural flavoured tea brand, curently available in 4 distinct Indian flavours, This chai, which can be used just as any regular chai, hopes to offer a convenient and consistent tea making solution to ‘Amrut Seva’ stalls.

To celebrate humanity with this chai elixir and take this movement forward….contact us at sevasahayog@gmail.com or damlemanik@gmail.com (98814 64553) with ‘Amrut Seva’ in the subject line. For other activities of Seva Sahayog visit www.sevafair.org

To get Seva Sahayog associated with your organization, fill up this form and attach your business card:

Would you like to host a Seva Fair at your oranization during Diwali?

Would you like to set up an ‘Amrut Seva’ stall at your organization?

Would you like Seva Sahayog to set up/ strengthen your Corporate Social Responsibility activites?