It has been long time since I wrote anything on this blog. Facebook has taken the space for the small headlines. But for long write up, this is the place.
Over last one year and half, things were too hazy and tough but we persisted and waited for some divine moment of inspiration. The inspiration never came but small small steps towards survival guided our way forward. Only good thing that we did that we kept walking. We kept on moving despite having hazy vision and dark clouds.
At this moment of time, the path way forward is getting more clearer.
Bihar Development Trust as a non profit organisation will survive now.
BDT 2.0 will be different from last five years. The headlines will be changed. The focus will be sharp.It will become a professional led organisation with 100% dependence on grant and donation for its work. It will exit from the social business space over next five years and the space will be taken over by businesses in private limited company mode. Over the next five years, Its debt will reduced to zero and it will execute projects on grants only. Its main role will be to build community based institution and enable them to do business in this market economy. All this nurturing will be done by the support of grants only.The focus area of Bihar Development Trust is also getting delineated. It will work on bamboo and weaving thematic area. This will entails fields like livelihood promotion, institution building, capacity building, climate change, environment , sustainable development etc. We are planning to hand over the management of Bihar Development Trust to professionals by 2017. The idea is to transform Bihar Development Trust into a resource organisation on Bamboo and weaving over next five years. Marketing activity of Bamboo based programme and weaving based programme is in process of being shifted to private limited company form.
We have become more patient and preferring to go slow and focus on consolidation of the business processes.Lot of innovation and good HR practices have evolved after these two years of struggle of becoming focussed.
The faith has become stronger . The ability to survive has acquired a new meaning.
Lots of things are happening which will be shared in coming posts.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
Happy New Year 2012
Dear Friends ,
Happy New Year Greetings !!!
We are in the fifth year of our entrepreneurial journey. 2011 threw lot of challenges are surprises at us and we are weathering the storm. 2011 saw the final death nail being hammered to non profit micro finance sector with clear although onerous guidelines for profit NBFC MFIs. There are challenges of bad debts, repayment and staff retention and retooling the micro finance staff for livelihood and marketing. The commissioning of bamboo stick making factory gave expertise in handling the problem of setting of new industry in a new area from scratch. We needed to conduct multiple trainings of women for making the stick and polishing it. We had experimented with market in Bihar Development Trust (BDT) in weaving , bamboo and agriculture space while struggling towards success. 1000s of families have been trained and engaged in production of incense sticks, weaving fabrics, stoles and sarees and vermicomposting. 1000s of farmers are getting agri-extension and institution building services.
BDT won Development Marketplace 2011 organised by the World Bank, The World Bank Institute & IFC. BDT was finalist in Wantrapreneur 2011 organised by Villgro. The preparation for these recognition helped us to survive during darkest period and innovate to find new solutions.It gave us immense exposure through interaction with like minded organisation across India. It exposed us to many for profit organisation doing commendable work in social space and linking the bottom of pyramid to market. We had the market linked approach for our livelihood work from beginning of Bihar Development Trust.The non profit legal architecture has hampered the growth of activities in bamboo and silk. Banks were afraid to offer cash credit for its silk and bamboo operations to BDT for its non profit status. The incense stick value chain and textile business require lot of capital to scale it up. We had founded a for profit company named Rural Development & Marketing Pvt Ltd (RDM) for marketing purpose and scaling up the business by raising equity in the company. The incense stick, vermicompost and silk marketing business are done by RDM. BDT will keep on doing the community mobilisation, capacity building and livelihood promotion work through grants from donor agency. It will not raise any further debt for business purpose.
RDM is launching the incense stick brand called "Aradhna" in Jan 2012. Last four months were spent on doing research on Incense stick brand. By learning from existing products, We developed a product with better value proposition for the end consumers. The whole supply chain has been tied up. Besides, We may be the first integrated players in incense stick value chain in East India by virtue of being present at each step of value chain namely Bamboo Plantation, Bamboo Stick, Rolled Stick , Incense Stick and Packaging. RDM has applied for Bihar Industrial Land to Industry Department of Bihar for 90 year lease. The whole incense stick value chain is giving employment to 2 lakh families in Bihar and We hope todouble this number by our effort in Bihar. You will be happy to note that RDM has been one of finalist for Unreasonable Institute Finalist Marketplace (www.unreasonableinstitute.org) for our idea on Incense stick & vermicompost value chain going to improve the livelihoods of one million families in Eastern India over next decade. We would need your financial support to raise 10,000 USD in limited three weeks time for being able to visit the Unreasonable Institute at Colorado in USA so that we can raise the required capital to create value for one million families in sustainable for profit manner.
We emerged from 2011 battle bruised but mentally hardened. We are looking for 2012 with new excitement and hope. We are forever indebted to all our friends and well wishers who have supported the idea and helped in transition. The economic development of Bihar is a long unknown path and we will keep creating and walking the path till our life ends.
RDM & BDT wishes you all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2012. May the New Year brings good luck to all of you in your endeavours !!!
With Best Wishes
Dr. Ravi Chandra
Saturday, October 8, 2011
A Fresh Path Ahead
We are going through interesting times. It has been a great roller coaster ride. After discussion with lot of people on path ahead and best model for scaling up, the path ahead is the route of private limited company. People have adviced us to form private limited company in the verticals of livelihood programmes and we have accepted the advice. Our initial idea was that producers will get shareholding in the marketing company. The producers , promoters and investors will get equal stakes while ESOPs may be 10% of the share capital. Many people adviced that things get complicated when producers and consumers both are on same board as they have conflicting interest. The balance becomes tough and it may bring the functioning of company in standstill in long term.
The current structure that is in our mind is following.
The producer will get their separate set of organisations. They will be free to market their products to any company including ours. We will not depute any CEO from our side for managing affairs of the producer organisations. We will build capacities in the producer organisations so that they can hire the professional staff or some one among them can become CEO of the producer organisation. BDT will try to get grants to nurture producer organisations to their ultimate objective of becoming self sustainable.
BDT will become solely grant recieving organisation which will promote producer organisation and build capacity in them by get experts, resources person, funds, organsing exposure visits, creating bank and credit linkages, technology transfer and awareness, grooming leadership , governance development of producer organisation etc. The present set of Trustees will become honorary and new set of trustees will be coopted like from old employees to community members. This will be done once BDT repays it all loans and all income generation activities are shifted to private limited companies in transparent manner.
The private limited companies will market the products sourced from BDT and producers associated with them . Later, The companies will market the products produced by producer organisations. The products will be sourced by market mechanisms but the producer company will be the preferred supplier to the marketing company. The private company will always pay the fair prices for the products souced from producer companies.The private companies will donate 5% of their PAT to BDT by passing board resolution so that the BDT can be in existence in perpetuity and continue doing welfare and producer organisation development work in the community.
Each private company will be handholded by strategic investors of that sector. We are operating in bamboo, textile and agri business domain. We will be seeking institutional or private shareholders who can support us for long term and handhold till IPO. We have the dreams of bringing IPO from Bihar and distribute thr products manufactured in Bihar to the whole world. This is the solution that will take us to the goals of 20 billion dollar enteprise by 2030 if not 2020 as was originally envisaged. We have resolved our internal dilemmas and found our way out from current confusion. It means its a new beginning. With BDT, It was tough to visualise 20 billion dollar group. But, With the private limited company we will reach that and can impact 10 lakh families of Bihar in positive manner. Now, mind is clearer. We have foreseen the solution. Now, the objective is to clear the debts of BDT . It will take 24 months to reduce the debt of 1.5 crore and we have our task cut out for it.
We have taken the challenge. The achievement of zero debt status without choking cash will determine our future after 12 months. We are moving ahead with our gameplan. We have taken the risk. God give us faith to implement this as we have taken steps towards the new path. As usual the johny walker ad comes to mind "Keep Walking". These two words have inspired me since my college days before I knew that its a liquor company. I am thankful to life for giving such painful but interesting experiences. Only thing is that my family now is feeling the pain also which should be part of story. Steve jobs died and his words are very clear . You have only one life and live as per your wish and for yourself. We have spent five years in understanding what we should have understood while starting out. Our story is an mirror to people who start without planning and the cost we have incurred by following the passion and gut feeling. The passion has brought us to this stage now its the cool head that will help us to cross this stage. We have burnt our stairs that has helped us to rise much and there is no other option than to go up and up.
Now that I have blurted out my feelings and I am feeling better. We know the revenue targets for getting the profit and repaying the loan. We have done revenue of 80 lakh in two entities till now in this year. We hope to cross 2 crores sales in 2 entities with keeping the same cost and next year we may cross 5 crores sales in two or three entities while increasing the cost to 10%. Then, we will cross the stage and will be in position to celebrate. We atleast now know where we have to go to become better. We seek all your prayers and blessing for achieving our goals and making Bihar Proud.
I would end with Mark Twain quote "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Jai Bihar !!!
Jai Bharat !!!
Best Wishes to all of you
Dr Ravi Chandra
Friday, September 16, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
BDT UPDATES
Dear Friends,
Greetings from BDT!!!
It has been long time since I wrote and shared BDT updates with you. Its has been an eventful last six months for Bihar Development Trust. We survived micro finance scare and are emerging as Livelihood institutions. The debt freeze to micro finance industry was biggest threat to BDT survival which forced the acceleration of livelihood programmes. Besides running a well managed micro finance programme, We are now implementing three established livelihood programmes with dedicated team and resources.
Weavers Livelihood Programme is supporting livelihood of 100 weavers in two clusters in Bhagalpur.
Farmers Livelihood Programme is supporting livelihoods of 1500 farmers in three blocks of Aurangabad district.
Bamboo Livelihood Programme is supporting livelihoods of 500 SHG members and 200 Bamboo growers in Kahalgaon Bhagalpur.
BDT is providing institution building, bank linkage, credit linkage, technical training, technology transfer, governance and accountability training, marketing linkage ,infrastructure development welfare work etc through these livelihood programmes with grant and loan received by it from various donors and lenders. These programmes will support 3000 families this year.
We are repositioning BDT as a livelihood promotion institution with direct implementation. BDT is promoting a sustainable model in which founder entrepreneurs, producers, employees, investors have win-win relationship. All the stakeholders will be given proportionate shareholding in private limited company. The producer will be organised and registered into various legal entities which can own share in the proposed private limited marketing company. The concept is that producer focus on production which they know best and we focus on marketing linkage and branding in which we are gaining strength day by day. We are limiting our focus to weavers, farmer and bamboo based livelihood and scaling it up. For this only, BDT has been awarded as one of the winner in Development Marketplace 2011 organised by The World Bank, IFC & The World Bank Institute.
We have a new look of our website www.bihardev.org and would request you to visit it to know more about our model and work.
This year BDT balance sheet size is Rs.2.29 crore with a micro finance loan outstanding portfolio of Rs. 1.15 crore and revenue of Rs.82 lakh and while it received grant support of Rs.16 lakh approximately which was spent as per objective of grants.
BDT is well linked to buyers and has more demand that it can meet for bamboo sticks, stoles, fabrics, vermicompost etc. BDT need working capital support to grow these programmes through internal accruals and surpluses. Besides, those connected to donors/lenders circuit can help BDT by lending it loan for working capital purpose of Rs. 10 Million this year. We have viable business plan for each of livelihood programmes and these can be shared to interested people. These loans will support livelihood of 3000 producer families through wage, purchase of raw materials and finished goods and surplus sharing.
Appeal for Donations:
For these initiatives to grow and support more and more livelihoods, BDT needs financial support from you. Each one of you can support livelihood of one weavers , farmers or SHG members by contributing 10,000 rupees towards vermicompost pit construction for a farmer, bamboo processing slicing machine for a SHG group or improving the hand looms for a weavers. You will be linked to one producer which will receive your support and interact with him over phone and his/her story will be updated on website.
BDT has been supported by AIACA, SDTT, AIF, NABARD,FWWB, BASIX, RGVN, TMN,FORD FOUNDATION,SBI, PNB,INDIAN BANK,SIDBI, Union Bank, Ananya Finance and many more over last four year. BDT is very grateful to these donors and lending agencies for their support.
BDT epitomises the spirit of a survivor and has been live example of the phrase '' what does not kill you makes you stronger''. Over the last four year, we have grown stronger and stronger with the support of your wishes. We wish to hear back from you. Please write back to us on bihardev@gmail.com.
With Best Wishes
Dr. Ravi Chandra
Managing Trustee & Chief Finance Officer
9771438191
Greetings from BDT!!!
It has been long time since I wrote and shared BDT updates with you. Its has been an eventful last six months for Bihar Development Trust. We survived micro finance scare and are emerging as Livelihood institutions. The debt freeze to micro finance industry was biggest threat to BDT survival which forced the acceleration of livelihood programmes. Besides running a well managed micro finance programme, We are now implementing three established livelihood programmes with dedicated team and resources.
Weavers Livelihood Programme is supporting livelihood of 100 weavers in two clusters in Bhagalpur.
Farmers Livelihood Programme is supporting livelihoods of 1500 farmers in three blocks of Aurangabad district.
Bamboo Livelihood Programme is supporting livelihoods of 500 SHG members and 200 Bamboo growers in Kahalgaon Bhagalpur.
BDT is providing institution building, bank linkage, credit linkage, technical training, technology transfer, governance and accountability training, marketing linkage ,infrastructure development welfare work etc through these livelihood programmes with grant and loan received by it from various donors and lenders. These programmes will support 3000 families this year.
We are repositioning BDT as a livelihood promotion institution with direct implementation. BDT is promoting a sustainable model in which founder entrepreneurs, producers, employees, investors have win-win relationship. All the stakeholders will be given proportionate shareholding in private limited company. The producer will be organised and registered into various legal entities which can own share in the proposed private limited marketing company. The concept is that producer focus on production which they know best and we focus on marketing linkage and branding in which we are gaining strength day by day. We are limiting our focus to weavers, farmer and bamboo based livelihood and scaling it up. For this only, BDT has been awarded as one of the winner in Development Marketplace 2011 organised by The World Bank, IFC & The World Bank Institute.
We have a new look of our website www.bihardev.org and would request you to visit it to know more about our model and work.
This year BDT balance sheet size is Rs.2.29 crore with a micro finance loan outstanding portfolio of Rs. 1.15 crore and revenue of Rs.82 lakh and while it received grant support of Rs.16 lakh approximately which was spent as per objective of grants.
BDT is well linked to buyers and has more demand that it can meet for bamboo sticks, stoles, fabrics, vermicompost etc. BDT need working capital support to grow these programmes through internal accruals and surpluses. Besides, those connected to donors/lenders circuit can help BDT by lending it loan for working capital purpose of Rs. 10 Million this year. We have viable business plan for each of livelihood programmes and these can be shared to interested people. These loans will support livelihood of 3000 producer families through wage, purchase of raw materials and finished goods and surplus sharing.
Appeal for Donations:
For these initiatives to grow and support more and more livelihoods, BDT needs financial support from you. Each one of you can support livelihood of one weavers , farmers or SHG members by contributing 10,000 rupees towards vermicompost pit construction for a farmer, bamboo processing slicing machine for a SHG group or improving the hand looms for a weavers. You will be linked to one producer which will receive your support and interact with him over phone and his/her story will be updated on website.
BDT has been supported by AIACA, SDTT, AIF, NABARD,FWWB, BASIX, RGVN, TMN,FORD FOUNDATION,SBI, PNB,INDIAN BANK,SIDBI, Union Bank, Ananya Finance and many more over last four year. BDT is very grateful to these donors and lending agencies for their support.
BDT epitomises the spirit of a survivor and has been live example of the phrase '' what does not kill you makes you stronger''. Over the last four year, we have grown stronger and stronger with the support of your wishes. We wish to hear back from you. Please write back to us on bihardev@gmail.com.
With Best Wishes
Dr. Ravi Chandra
Managing Trustee & Chief Finance Officer
9771438191
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
BDT is growing
Bihar Development Trust is an emerging livelihood promotion institution founded by rural management professionals from IRMA (Institute of Rural Management, Anand) in 2007. Bihar Development Trust is operating in Patna, Bhagalpur and Aurangabad Districts of Bihar. It has a community outreach of 10,000 families and employee strength of 60 in its five offices. It is working in field of livelihood promotion and institution building area with weavers, farmers and bamboo growers and SHG women who are processing bamboo into sticks. Microfinance programme provides credit and insurance services and promotes savings and financial literacy among women. BDT promotes financial inclusion and provides credit linkages to its members of its livelihood and microfinance members. BDT has created a niche space in development sector by virtue of its ability to provide market linkages to all its livelihood programme successfully and growing steadily.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
BDT wishes you a Very Happy & Prosperous New Year 2011
Dear Friends,
Greetings!!!
BDT wishes you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2011. We hope and pray that we all realise our potential and dreams in the coming years.
2010 is going to end and its time for reflection. 2011 is coming and its time to work for achieving the goals in 2011.
For BDT 2010 has been an exciting year. We are in our fourth year of existence and hence survived the initial three years that is crucial for any start up venture. BDT has survived in adverse condition is itself a testimony of its character. We started and were hit by 2008 Global crisis.As we are walking out of infant hood and growing as a child , we are hit by AP Crisis. We are not to be blame for both the crisis but we are the hardest hit by both crisis. In 2008, our supporters and well wishers bailed us out. This time our diversification strategy has helped us unknowingly. Our 50 team members are assured that there will be no lay offs and they can celebrate their new year with hope and better future. Those who have read ''WHO MOVED MY CHEESE'' can relate to BDT condition. AP Crisis has moved our cheese and luckily we have already planned for our new cheese and were getting it. Recent crisis has vindicated the BDT model of livelihood work along with microfinance programme. In the crisis, we have returned the money with an interest of 12% per annum to many of our initial contributors who helped to survive BDT three years ago. We are forever indebted to our initial contributors.
In Microfinance, the fresh credit has dried off since last three months and our portfolio is decreasing. We are waiting for fresh credit disbursement from our lenders. The repayment is continuously on time and we are able to repay all lenders on time and make some new loans in field. After achieving the breakeven, we have again slid into losses in our microfinance programme. We are now in thinking mode and asking for inputs to derisk the microfinance model from regulatory risk or risk from external environment. We have one of the most diversified lenders base in Bihar for our microfinance programme and well defined system and processes for a small microfinance operation like us. Rickshaw puller livelihood programme has also been growing along with microfinance programme.
Our Tasar Silk programme is running well and we have crossed the sales of Rs. 50 lakh in last six months. We are supporting the livelihood of around 100 weavers. We have founded Lodipur Bunkar Trust whose bank account has been opened in IDBI bank. The lodipur bunkar trust is the first Mutual Benefit Trust which will be getting shareholding in Tana Bana Marketing Private Limited which is the marketing company promoted by BDT founders. As marketing problem has been solved, we are struggling for working capital for growth. Our buyers include CFM, Rangsootra, Sadhna, Sewa and Fab India. FWWB has supported us with working capital loan.
Our agriculture programme has been started in Daudnagar, Aurangabad this year and is running on loan funds from well wishers till date. We have an outreach of around 500 farmers and in process of organising them into farmers club in 40 villages. These farmer club will have their own bank accounts and we hope to provide agri input extension and marketing linkage services through farmer clubs. We have crossed the sales of Rs. 20 lakh in seeds and vermicompost this year. We plan to procure 10000kg of rice from our member farmers. We hope to create storage space for farmers for better time value addition.
Our agarbatti stick making unit is in process of getting ready in Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur with support of NABARD. Around 500 women are now in process of being organised as SHG in three village around the unit. The machinery orders have been placed and we hope to begin production by end of Jan 2011. This unit has the potential to create 5000 employments in next five years in adjacent area. Besides, there will be bamboo plantation in 50 acres of Land in june 2011.
In 2010-2011,we have an outreach of 6000 families in three district and we are about to cross the revenue of Rs.100 lakh but very little surplus as a group. In 2011, we will be crossing an outreach of 10000 families in above four activities in three district and will try to cross the group revenue to Rs. 300 lakh. We are straddling the whole value chain of weaving, stick making and agriculture sectors. These are small pilots which are growing and taking shape. They have the potential to transform the whole sector and in this process create wealth for all stakeholders.
We are trying to catalyse million mutinies at individual household for development of Bihar. We feel happy when our office boy Ajit buys a TV at Diwali and has been able to support his brother education and family. We feel happy that Shivnandan, our weaver has been able to grow from weaver to a micro entrepreneur and is talking about sub contracting orders from us. We feel happy when our micro finance borrower Renu Devi who started in puja material shop in barari with our loan and share her growth story with our field officers over last two years. We feel happy when our field officers who started on paltry salary of Rs.500 a month are now earning 6000-8000 per month and able to command better respect and social status due to their improved economics. We have lots and lots of small success stories to share at micro level which we wish to document and share but can not do because of our inability to find time to documents them.
It our endeavour to share positive stories from Bihar and make you aware about the positive changes sweeping across Bihar at micro level.
We are grateful to support of you and donor agencies and financial institutions like FWWB, Ananya Finance, TMN,AIF, RGVN, IGS Basics, SIDBI, SBI, Union Bank, Indian Bank, PNB, NABARD, SDTT, AIACA, Ford Foundation, GTZ, KFW, WOG etc.
Thank you for reading such a long mail and Wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous 2011 !!!!
Regards
Dr Ravi Chandra
Managing Trustee
Bihar Development Trust
Greetings!!!
BDT wishes you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2011. We hope and pray that we all realise our potential and dreams in the coming years.
2010 is going to end and its time for reflection. 2011 is coming and its time to work for achieving the goals in 2011.
For BDT 2010 has been an exciting year. We are in our fourth year of existence and hence survived the initial three years that is crucial for any start up venture. BDT has survived in adverse condition is itself a testimony of its character. We started and were hit by 2008 Global crisis.As we are walking out of infant hood and growing as a child , we are hit by AP Crisis. We are not to be blame for both the crisis but we are the hardest hit by both crisis. In 2008, our supporters and well wishers bailed us out. This time our diversification strategy has helped us unknowingly. Our 50 team members are assured that there will be no lay offs and they can celebrate their new year with hope and better future. Those who have read ''WHO MOVED MY CHEESE'' can relate to BDT condition. AP Crisis has moved our cheese and luckily we have already planned for our new cheese and were getting it. Recent crisis has vindicated the BDT model of livelihood work along with microfinance programme. In the crisis, we have returned the money with an interest of 12% per annum to many of our initial contributors who helped to survive BDT three years ago. We are forever indebted to our initial contributors.
In Microfinance, the fresh credit has dried off since last three months and our portfolio is decreasing. We are waiting for fresh credit disbursement from our lenders. The repayment is continuously on time and we are able to repay all lenders on time and make some new loans in field. After achieving the breakeven, we have again slid into losses in our microfinance programme. We are now in thinking mode and asking for inputs to derisk the microfinance model from regulatory risk or risk from external environment. We have one of the most diversified lenders base in Bihar for our microfinance programme and well defined system and processes for a small microfinance operation like us. Rickshaw puller livelihood programme has also been growing along with microfinance programme.
Our Tasar Silk programme is running well and we have crossed the sales of Rs. 50 lakh in last six months. We are supporting the livelihood of around 100 weavers. We have founded Lodipur Bunkar Trust whose bank account has been opened in IDBI bank. The lodipur bunkar trust is the first Mutual Benefit Trust which will be getting shareholding in Tana Bana Marketing Private Limited which is the marketing company promoted by BDT founders. As marketing problem has been solved, we are struggling for working capital for growth. Our buyers include CFM, Rangsootra, Sadhna, Sewa and Fab India. FWWB has supported us with working capital loan.
Our agriculture programme has been started in Daudnagar, Aurangabad this year and is running on loan funds from well wishers till date. We have an outreach of around 500 farmers and in process of organising them into farmers club in 40 villages. These farmer club will have their own bank accounts and we hope to provide agri input extension and marketing linkage services through farmer clubs. We have crossed the sales of Rs. 20 lakh in seeds and vermicompost this year. We plan to procure 10000kg of rice from our member farmers. We hope to create storage space for farmers for better time value addition.
Our agarbatti stick making unit is in process of getting ready in Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur with support of NABARD. Around 500 women are now in process of being organised as SHG in three village around the unit. The machinery orders have been placed and we hope to begin production by end of Jan 2011. This unit has the potential to create 5000 employments in next five years in adjacent area. Besides, there will be bamboo plantation in 50 acres of Land in june 2011.
In 2010-2011,we have an outreach of 6000 families in three district and we are about to cross the revenue of Rs.100 lakh but very little surplus as a group. In 2011, we will be crossing an outreach of 10000 families in above four activities in three district and will try to cross the group revenue to Rs. 300 lakh. We are straddling the whole value chain of weaving, stick making and agriculture sectors. These are small pilots which are growing and taking shape. They have the potential to transform the whole sector and in this process create wealth for all stakeholders.
We are trying to catalyse million mutinies at individual household for development of Bihar. We feel happy when our office boy Ajit buys a TV at Diwali and has been able to support his brother education and family. We feel happy that Shivnandan, our weaver has been able to grow from weaver to a micro entrepreneur and is talking about sub contracting orders from us. We feel happy when our micro finance borrower Renu Devi who started in puja material shop in barari with our loan and share her growth story with our field officers over last two years. We feel happy when our field officers who started on paltry salary of Rs.500 a month are now earning 6000-8000 per month and able to command better respect and social status due to their improved economics. We have lots and lots of small success stories to share at micro level which we wish to document and share but can not do because of our inability to find time to documents them.
It our endeavour to share positive stories from Bihar and make you aware about the positive changes sweeping across Bihar at micro level.
We are grateful to support of you and donor agencies and financial institutions like FWWB, Ananya Finance, TMN,AIF, RGVN, IGS Basics, SIDBI, SBI, Union Bank, Indian Bank, PNB, NABARD, SDTT, AIACA, Ford Foundation, GTZ, KFW, WOG etc.
Thank you for reading such a long mail and Wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous 2011 !!!!
Regards
Dr Ravi Chandra
Managing Trustee
Bihar Development Trust
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Independence Day Greetings !!! BDT updates
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Bihar Development Trust!!!
Bihar Development Trust wishes you all a very Happy Independence Day. May we continue to work which will increase the pride of our country !!!
It has been long since I have updated you about the work of Bihar Development Trust. BDT is growing steadily in the field of Micro finance and Tasar Silk.
Till date, BDT has provided loans to more than 4200 women borrowers of amount more than 380 lakh rupees. Over last 18 month, our recovery rate is 100%. Our portfolio outstanding is Rs.150 lakh. There has been major changes in Micro finance Industry in last three months. SKS IPO has been oversubscribed by the market. Private sector banks are not agreeing to provide lending to Trust like BDT. There has been overwhelming pressure to transform into NBFC. We are not able to grow as we trapped in low equity-low debt vicious cycle. We have now decided to transform into NBFC . There has been tremendous interest in BDT micro finance and we have received lot of investment offers from High net worth individual
Over last three months , we have
1. Build Drinking water facility in Lodipur village
2. Cemented Drains in Lodipur Village
3. Cemented the 20 looms of weavers in Lodipur
4. Installed a hand pump and toilet for Girls and Boys in Govt School in Adampur, Bhagalpur
These works has been completed with the help of Sir Dorab Ji Tata Trust, All India Association for Craft workers Welfare Association and World of Good Development Foundation.
We need lakhs rupees as donation to our corpus to continue the development Trust to continue the development work. We will be able to execute special welfare projects in Bhagalpur and Patna area based on wishes of individual donors. You can give us donations for education of children of weavers and rickshaw pullers and health of women and girl child of these family. You can donate to BDT for constructing drinking water facility in your village school. You can suggest your own welfare activity for your area and sponser that.
We have been able to make 80 rickshaw pullers proud owners of their own rickshaw in Bhagalpur with the help of Punjab National Bank and American India Foundation. We have plans to scale up to 700-800 rickshaw pullers who will be made owner this year if our credit proposals are sanctioned by SIDBI.
We have been able to mobilise order worth Rs. 23 lakh from buyers like Fab India, Sadhna Udaipur, Rangsootra and CFM. Weavers has been provided training by designers from NID. This is helping us to employ around 100 handloom and powerloom weavers. Its not only handloom but Powerloom is also going through crisis. We are suffering from the working capital problems. We need 40% of the order size as working capital to execute the order. We will request our well wishers to provide us loans for working capital. We need help in up gradation of handloom as well as power looms which can weaver more meters of fabrics per day. Your support can increase the employment to 100s of weavers. We can play a part in increase the Bhagalpur share in overall textile trade of India and world. This trade has potential to provide employment to one lakh families in Bhagalpur.
Finally, we are planning to begin the construction of Agarbatti Stick Unit in Kahalgaon. The land site has been identified and NABARD may release the loan in this month. This project has the potential to provide employment to 5000 families in five six panchayat in Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur.
Over the last three months, we learnt a lot about the uncertainties about agri culture sector. Our agriculture programme suffered setback due to our inability to calculate the working capital right and our wrong decision of not to buy till wheat prices get down.We could not understand the high prices of wheat during our procurement and waited it to come down. We earned 20% on selling the small amount of wheat that we procured in a month.The drought in Bihar has been a surprising natural calamity.The drought failed our plan for promoting SRI. But, the three month experiment has provided a good learning experience which will help us to plan a better programme.
BDT has been planning to provide livelihood assistance to 50,000 families through integrated livelihood programmes with Agarbatti, Silk and agri related program in next five years.
Through its Micro finance NBFC, we plan to provide micro finance assistance to 200,000 families in next five year.
We are grateful to Ananya Finance, FWWB, TMN,RGVN, IGS BASICS, SBI, Union Bank, PNB, Indian Bank, SDTT,SIF, NABARD, SIDBI, AIACA, CFM and many other institutions for their assistance to BDT.
We would like to say that last three and half year has been a great roller coaster ride. We have suffered our bout of depression, nervousness, uncertainty, excitement, agonizing pain, heart felt satisfaction, ecstasy etc over last three year. We are happy to have our share that our decision to found Bihar Development Trust has been right. We are receiving lot of support, motivational mail and even fan mails in our inbox. We have able to provide motivation to lot of people through our initiatives. We would like to thank you all our wishers and friends for their support. We would like to continue our work in gratitude of your support. Few media coverage over last six months is attached with this mail. We hope to live in Developed Bihar very soon.
Thank you for reading such a long mail.
Jai Hind !!! Jai Bihar !!!
Yours Sincerely
Dr. Ravi Chandra
Greetings from Bihar Development Trust!!!
Bihar Development Trust wishes you all a very Happy Independence Day. May we continue to work which will increase the pride of our country !!!
It has been long since I have updated you about the work of Bihar Development Trust. BDT is growing steadily in the field of Micro finance and Tasar Silk.
Till date, BDT has provided loans to more than 4200 women borrowers of amount more than 380 lakh rupees. Over last 18 month, our recovery rate is 100%. Our portfolio outstanding is Rs.150 lakh. There has been major changes in Micro finance Industry in last three months. SKS IPO has been oversubscribed by the market. Private sector banks are not agreeing to provide lending to Trust like BDT. There has been overwhelming pressure to transform into NBFC. We are not able to grow as we trapped in low equity-low debt vicious cycle. We have now decided to transform into NBFC . There has been tremendous interest in BDT micro finance and we have received lot of investment offers from High net worth individual
Over last three months , we have
1. Build Drinking water facility in Lodipur village
2. Cemented Drains in Lodipur Village
3. Cemented the 20 looms of weavers in Lodipur
4. Installed a hand pump and toilet for Girls and Boys in Govt School in Adampur, Bhagalpur
These works has been completed with the help of Sir Dorab Ji Tata Trust, All India Association for Craft workers Welfare Association and World of Good Development Foundation.
We need lakhs rupees as donation to our corpus to continue the development Trust to continue the development work. We will be able to execute special welfare projects in Bhagalpur and Patna area based on wishes of individual donors. You can give us donations for education of children of weavers and rickshaw pullers and health of women and girl child of these family. You can donate to BDT for constructing drinking water facility in your village school. You can suggest your own welfare activity for your area and sponser that.
We have been able to make 80 rickshaw pullers proud owners of their own rickshaw in Bhagalpur with the help of Punjab National Bank and American India Foundation. We have plans to scale up to 700-800 rickshaw pullers who will be made owner this year if our credit proposals are sanctioned by SIDBI.
We have been able to mobilise order worth Rs. 23 lakh from buyers like Fab India, Sadhna Udaipur, Rangsootra and CFM. Weavers has been provided training by designers from NID. This is helping us to employ around 100 handloom and powerloom weavers. Its not only handloom but Powerloom is also going through crisis. We are suffering from the working capital problems. We need 40% of the order size as working capital to execute the order. We will request our well wishers to provide us loans for working capital. We need help in up gradation of handloom as well as power looms which can weaver more meters of fabrics per day. Your support can increase the employment to 100s of weavers. We can play a part in increase the Bhagalpur share in overall textile trade of India and world. This trade has potential to provide employment to one lakh families in Bhagalpur.
Finally, we are planning to begin the construction of Agarbatti Stick Unit in Kahalgaon. The land site has been identified and NABARD may release the loan in this month. This project has the potential to provide employment to 5000 families in five six panchayat in Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur.
Over the last three months, we learnt a lot about the uncertainties about agri culture sector. Our agriculture programme suffered setback due to our inability to calculate the working capital right and our wrong decision of not to buy till wheat prices get down.We could not understand the high prices of wheat during our procurement and waited it to come down. We earned 20% on selling the small amount of wheat that we procured in a month.The drought in Bihar has been a surprising natural calamity.The drought failed our plan for promoting SRI. But, the three month experiment has provided a good learning experience which will help us to plan a better programme.
BDT has been planning to provide livelihood assistance to 50,000 families through integrated livelihood programmes with Agarbatti, Silk and agri related program in next five years.
Through its Micro finance NBFC, we plan to provide micro finance assistance to 200,000 families in next five year.
We are grateful to Ananya Finance, FWWB, TMN,RGVN, IGS BASICS, SBI, Union Bank, PNB, Indian Bank, SDTT,SIF, NABARD, SIDBI, AIACA, CFM and many other institutions for their assistance to BDT.
We would like to say that last three and half year has been a great roller coaster ride. We have suffered our bout of depression, nervousness, uncertainty, excitement, agonizing pain, heart felt satisfaction, ecstasy etc over last three year. We are happy to have our share that our decision to found Bihar Development Trust has been right. We are receiving lot of support, motivational mail and even fan mails in our inbox. We have able to provide motivation to lot of people through our initiatives. We would like to thank you all our wishers and friends for their support. We would like to continue our work in gratitude of your support. Few media coverage over last six months is attached with this mail. We hope to live in Developed Bihar very soon.
Thank you for reading such a long mail.
Jai Hind !!! Jai Bihar !!!
Yours Sincerely
Dr. Ravi Chandra
Friday, June 4, 2010
BDT UPDATES
Dear Friends,
Greetings from BDT!!!
BDT is growing. It can be confirmed now. We have completed three year of existence and happy to share following figures with you. It gives you a snapshot of our activity in last three years in number terms. For qualitative experience, you need to visit our operational area and feel the impact.
1.0
Status of Operation
As on 31 Mar, 2008
As on 31 Mar, 2009
As on 31 Mar, 2010
As on May 31, 2010
1.1
Total field staff
3
7
8
9
1.2
Total office staff
2
6
9
9
1.3
Total staffs
5
13
17
18
1.4
Total Branches
1
2
2
2
1.5
Districts
Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur
Patna
Bhagalpur
Patna
Bhagalpur
Patna
1.6
Total groupsSHG/JLG
20
400 (5 member)
400 (10 member)
500
1.7
Total members
100
2,000
4000
5,000
1.8
Total Cumulative Borrowers
89
1084
3117
3726
1.9
Active Borrowers
89
945
1963
2419
2
Financial Status (Rs)
As on 31 Mar, 2008
As on 31 Mar, 2009
As on 31 Mar, 2010
As on May 31, 2010
2.1
Loan Disbursed (Rs. In Lakhs )
4.55
74.81
185.67
63.20
Total Cumulative Disbursement (Rs. In Lakhs)
4.55
79.36
265.03
328.24
2.2
Repayment Rate
100%
99%
100%
100%
2.3
Outstanding (Rs. In Lakhs)
3.79
47.51
112.86
142.70
2.4
Portfolio At Risk 30 days
0%
1.1%
0.015%
0.01%
3
Source of Funds (Rs in Lakhs)
2007- 2008
2008- 2009
2009- 2010
2010-2011
3.1
FWWB, Ahmedabad
3.00
10.00
70.00
25.00
3.2
RGVN, Patna
1.80
5.00
13.00
0
3.3
BASICS, Hyderabad
0
10.00
10.00
0
3.4
TMN, Lucknow
0
30.00
50.00
10.00
3.5
Indian Bank, Microsate, Patna-20
0
10.00
0
00
3.6
PNB, Bhagalpur
0
0
3.28
4.22
3.6
SBI, Kankarbagh, Patna
0
0
0
30.00
3.7
Union Bank
0
0
0
10.00
Total
4.80
65.00
146.28
79.22
4.0
Financials Parameters
As on 31 Mar, 2008
As on 31 Mar, 2009
As on 31 Mar, 2010
4.1
Balance Sheet Size ( Rs. in lakhs)
12.07
75.67
170.84
4.2
Revenue ( Rs. in Lakhs )
5.20
17.67
46.00
4.3
Surplus ( Rs. in Lakhs
0.07
0.76
2.06
5.0
Business & Human Resources
5.1
Verticals
Microfinance
Microfinance, Silk
Microfinance Silk Agriculture
Microfinance
Silk
Agriculture
Bamboo
5.2
Total Office staffs
5
15
35
38
This time its only figures. I will request people to provide feedback on basis of these figures.
This time its only figures. I will request people to provide feedback on basis of these figures.
1. There have been questions about our pace of growth. Many friends feel that with 4 professionals actively involved in running the organisation, there is huge opportunity cost we have incurred. The promoters are not paying themsleves a market salary for last three years. The cost of our sweat if included in the operation, will show that we have managed highly inefficiently. We have not grown as per our potential.
Ans. The opportunity cost has been huge. Personal pain and Social pressure are being felt even today. We feel that the initiative will py in long term. Its not only about money. We are trying, experimenting and learning. We are doing as per our existing knowledge and local dynamics. The basix crux is that BDT is an initiative which has been born out of a capital of Rs.5000, a Laptop and a datacard. Only thing we have is the will power to make a positive difference in Bihar. What we have done is in front of you. We are not perfect. We did not know many thing. We are still not aware about many standards. legal compliances . Make us aware. We do many mistakes and are learning the hardway.
2. The other question is our diversification. Due to the diversification, we have not been grown in Microfinance as we should have been. People suggest that if we single handedly focus on microfinance, we could have done more on that front and would have a bigger portfolio.
Ans. Our idea has to Develop Bihar as a geography. Only one activity is not sufficient enough. Now, we are present in four activity and will work in consolidating and sscaling up these activities for next few years. Finally we are focussed on these 4 activity and will try to reach around 200,000 families in these activities in next five years. This will require a mammoth exercise in strategy and execution and create employment for thousands of family. We are saying no to any other activity now.
3. The third question is our governance.
Ans. We feel that BDT is one of the most transparent and communicative organisation. Please visit www.bihardev.pbworks.com where since last three years, i have been painstakingly updating all information and changes. I plan to keep doing it lifelong. Through BDT updates, we have been communicating every decisions and future plans to stakeholders and wellwishers. We are taking feedbacks also and improving ourselves. We need support in improving our governance standards and committed to act in this regard. I am attaching the Board of Trustee profile for you.
4. What has been an impact of our initiative? Has we been able to create any change in the society in which we are working in? Is Bihar ( 4000 families ) better off due to initiatives of BDT? Have we contributed to positive image of Bihar?
Ans. Bihar Development Trust was an emotional decision for the founders as they wanted their state to progress and contribute their bit towards it. Besides, the business logic was that 10 crore population of Bihar as a market which will grow provided law order and governance improves. The decision to start was not a rational one but in hindsight it looks like a master stroke to many. We now have a foot hold in an emerging market which is going to grow very rapidly so that it comes at par to national figures of consumption. We hope that people feel that we have added to the positive image of Bihar.
We are present in three districts and in four verticals. We plan to focus on only these activities for next few years although the number of district will increase.
We are grappling with all the four questions. We would like some one to document our evolution and impact on society by the works of BDT.
We would like you to keep guiding us, mentoring us, scolding us and just call on 9771438191 to chit chat.
I am dedicated to recieve your calls and feedbacks. Waiting for your call
Thank you for reading the long mail.
Regards
Dr. Ravi Chandra
Greetings from BDT!!!
BDT is growing. It can be confirmed now. We have completed three year of existence and happy to share following figures with you. It gives you a snapshot of our activity in last three years in number terms. For qualitative experience, you need to visit our operational area and feel the impact.
1.0
Status of Operation
As on 31 Mar, 2008
As on 31 Mar, 2009
As on 31 Mar, 2010
As on May 31, 2010
1.1
Total field staff
3
7
8
9
1.2
Total office staff
2
6
9
9
1.3
Total staffs
5
13
17
18
1.4
Total Branches
1
2
2
2
1.5
Districts
Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur
Patna
Bhagalpur
Patna
Bhagalpur
Patna
1.6
Total groupsSHG/JLG
20
400 (5 member)
400 (10 member)
500
1.7
Total members
100
2,000
4000
5,000
1.8
Total Cumulative Borrowers
89
1084
3117
3726
1.9
Active Borrowers
89
945
1963
2419
2
Financial Status (Rs)
As on 31 Mar, 2008
As on 31 Mar, 2009
As on 31 Mar, 2010
As on May 31, 2010
2.1
Loan Disbursed (Rs. In Lakhs )
4.55
74.81
185.67
63.20
Total Cumulative Disbursement (Rs. In Lakhs)
4.55
79.36
265.03
328.24
2.2
Repayment Rate
100%
99%
100%
100%
2.3
Outstanding (Rs. In Lakhs)
3.79
47.51
112.86
142.70
2.4
Portfolio At Risk 30 days
0%
1.1%
0.015%
0.01%
3
Source of Funds (Rs in Lakhs)
2007- 2008
2008- 2009
2009- 2010
2010-2011
3.1
FWWB, Ahmedabad
3.00
10.00
70.00
25.00
3.2
RGVN, Patna
1.80
5.00
13.00
0
3.3
BASICS, Hyderabad
0
10.00
10.00
0
3.4
TMN, Lucknow
0
30.00
50.00
10.00
3.5
Indian Bank, Microsate, Patna-20
0
10.00
0
00
3.6
PNB, Bhagalpur
0
0
3.28
4.22
3.6
SBI, Kankarbagh, Patna
0
0
0
30.00
3.7
Union Bank
0
0
0
10.00
Total
4.80
65.00
146.28
79.22
4.0
Financials Parameters
As on 31 Mar, 2008
As on 31 Mar, 2009
As on 31 Mar, 2010
4.1
Balance Sheet Size ( Rs. in lakhs)
12.07
75.67
170.84
4.2
Revenue ( Rs. in Lakhs )
5.20
17.67
46.00
4.3
Surplus ( Rs. in Lakhs
0.07
0.76
2.06
5.0
Business & Human Resources
5.1
Verticals
Microfinance
Microfinance, Silk
Microfinance Silk Agriculture
Microfinance
Silk
Agriculture
Bamboo
5.2
Total Office staffs
5
15
35
38
This time its only figures. I will request people to provide feedback on basis of these figures.
This time its only figures. I will request people to provide feedback on basis of these figures.
1. There have been questions about our pace of growth. Many friends feel that with 4 professionals actively involved in running the organisation, there is huge opportunity cost we have incurred. The promoters are not paying themsleves a market salary for last three years. The cost of our sweat if included in the operation, will show that we have managed highly inefficiently. We have not grown as per our potential.
Ans. The opportunity cost has been huge. Personal pain and Social pressure are being felt even today. We feel that the initiative will py in long term. Its not only about money. We are trying, experimenting and learning. We are doing as per our existing knowledge and local dynamics. The basix crux is that BDT is an initiative which has been born out of a capital of Rs.5000, a Laptop and a datacard. Only thing we have is the will power to make a positive difference in Bihar. What we have done is in front of you. We are not perfect. We did not know many thing. We are still not aware about many standards. legal compliances . Make us aware. We do many mistakes and are learning the hardway.
2. The other question is our diversification. Due to the diversification, we have not been grown in Microfinance as we should have been. People suggest that if we single handedly focus on microfinance, we could have done more on that front and would have a bigger portfolio.
Ans. Our idea has to Develop Bihar as a geography. Only one activity is not sufficient enough. Now, we are present in four activity and will work in consolidating and sscaling up these activities for next few years. Finally we are focussed on these 4 activity and will try to reach around 200,000 families in these activities in next five years. This will require a mammoth exercise in strategy and execution and create employment for thousands of family. We are saying no to any other activity now.
3. The third question is our governance.
Ans. We feel that BDT is one of the most transparent and communicative organisation. Please visit www.bihardev.pbworks.com where since last three years, i have been painstakingly updating all information and changes. I plan to keep doing it lifelong. Through BDT updates, we have been communicating every decisions and future plans to stakeholders and wellwishers. We are taking feedbacks also and improving ourselves. We need support in improving our governance standards and committed to act in this regard. I am attaching the Board of Trustee profile for you.
4. What has been an impact of our initiative? Has we been able to create any change in the society in which we are working in? Is Bihar ( 4000 families ) better off due to initiatives of BDT? Have we contributed to positive image of Bihar?
Ans. Bihar Development Trust was an emotional decision for the founders as they wanted their state to progress and contribute their bit towards it. Besides, the business logic was that 10 crore population of Bihar as a market which will grow provided law order and governance improves. The decision to start was not a rational one but in hindsight it looks like a master stroke to many. We now have a foot hold in an emerging market which is going to grow very rapidly so that it comes at par to national figures of consumption. We hope that people feel that we have added to the positive image of Bihar.
We are present in three districts and in four verticals. We plan to focus on only these activities for next few years although the number of district will increase.
We are grappling with all the four questions. We would like some one to document our evolution and impact on society by the works of BDT.
We would like you to keep guiding us, mentoring us, scolding us and just call on 9771438191 to chit chat.
I am dedicated to recieve your calls and feedbacks. Waiting for your call
Thank you for reading the long mail.
Regards
Dr. Ravi Chandra
Thursday, April 15, 2010
BDT UPDATES
Dear Friends,
Greetings!!!
Finally, we have learnt to say no and we are full of work. Over last three years, many people are wondering that when we will stop diversifying and consolidate. Finally, the founders and promoters are full of work mentally as well as physically. Our idea is Bihar and we want to work in domains which has the potential to impact and reach one million families in Bihar. Our idea was geography specific but not sector specific. Finally we are able to evolve a BDT model which will engage the families from input to marketing in each of the four verticals. BDT group is now present in Microfinance, Textile, Agriculture and Bamboo. Our outreach is 4000 families currently. We will reach 10000 families with our multiple activities in this year. We have designed innovative products for farmers in agriculture and bamboo. We have planned and tying up with reputed technical support agencies and individuals to provide technical inputs in textile, agri culture and bamboo based activities.
Microfinance has a potential to scale up in each district of Bihar supported by adequate livelihood activities. Similarly Agriculture based activities has the potential to reach almost every single family in Bihar. Bamboo based activities can be spread in south and east district of Bihar. While tusser silk weaver livelihood programme can be scaled up in Bhagalpur and can be integrated with other artisans based cluster like Madhubani.
In number terms, We lent around Rs. 200 lakhs to 3000 women borrowers . Our portfolio outstanding is Rs. 113 lacs approx. We insured Life of more than 5000 women and their husband. We provided employment to 50 weavers. We achieved a sales of Rs.10 lakhs in Tusser silk products. We achieved a sales of Rs.25,00,000 through sale of Banana and Vermicompost. Through our procurement initiatives, we provided benefits of better prices to 400 farmers. We have a team of 40 people engaged in these operations. We have our offices at Bhagalpur, Patna and Daudnagar.
We have just started to get a feel of canvas of Bihar which we will be painting with developmental activities. We are again rejuvenated and feeling like fresh and beginner. Its a great feeling to say no and feel secure that we have enough on plate. Financially , the things are improving. We have lined up nine lending agencies over last three years and many grant making agencies . The BDT group has a corpus equity of Rs.30,00,000 through contributions from promoters, friends, well wishers, grant making agencies etc.
It does not means that we do not need financial support from you. You can keep contributing to Bihar Development Trust. Its an idea to build an organisation like TATA or infosys scale in Bihar and its foundation has been laid. We have to go through lot of struggles and challenges in future and we have to mentally prepared for it. Each stage of organisation life cycle brings its own challenges. We are going to consolidate and spread BDT culture in our 5 offices stretched across Bhagalpur, Patna and Aurangabad. We want to create a culture of excellence and never give up attitude in BDT Group. At this stage, I would like to sincerely thank all the colleagues of BDT group from office boy to accounts and MIS to area managers for their contribution in BDT growth. The chant of Jai Bihar in our offices and group meeting fills our heart with Pride.
Bihar is rising from Phoenix and Its an idea whose time has come.
Jai Bihar!!!!
Jai Bharat!!!
Thank you all for reading the mails. We will keep sharing updates with you. We thank our donors for keeping faith in us. We need your continuous Feedback.
Regards
Dr. Ravi Chandra
Greetings!!!
Finally, we have learnt to say no and we are full of work. Over last three years, many people are wondering that when we will stop diversifying and consolidate. Finally, the founders and promoters are full of work mentally as well as physically. Our idea is Bihar and we want to work in domains which has the potential to impact and reach one million families in Bihar. Our idea was geography specific but not sector specific. Finally we are able to evolve a BDT model which will engage the families from input to marketing in each of the four verticals. BDT group is now present in Microfinance, Textile, Agriculture and Bamboo. Our outreach is 4000 families currently. We will reach 10000 families with our multiple activities in this year. We have designed innovative products for farmers in agriculture and bamboo. We have planned and tying up with reputed technical support agencies and individuals to provide technical inputs in textile, agri culture and bamboo based activities.
Microfinance has a potential to scale up in each district of Bihar supported by adequate livelihood activities. Similarly Agriculture based activities has the potential to reach almost every single family in Bihar. Bamboo based activities can be spread in south and east district of Bihar. While tusser silk weaver livelihood programme can be scaled up in Bhagalpur and can be integrated with other artisans based cluster like Madhubani.
In number terms, We lent around Rs. 200 lakhs to 3000 women borrowers . Our portfolio outstanding is Rs. 113 lacs approx. We insured Life of more than 5000 women and their husband. We provided employment to 50 weavers. We achieved a sales of Rs.10 lakhs in Tusser silk products. We achieved a sales of Rs.25,00,000 through sale of Banana and Vermicompost. Through our procurement initiatives, we provided benefits of better prices to 400 farmers. We have a team of 40 people engaged in these operations. We have our offices at Bhagalpur, Patna and Daudnagar.
We have just started to get a feel of canvas of Bihar which we will be painting with developmental activities. We are again rejuvenated and feeling like fresh and beginner. Its a great feeling to say no and feel secure that we have enough on plate. Financially , the things are improving. We have lined up nine lending agencies over last three years and many grant making agencies . The BDT group has a corpus equity of Rs.30,00,000 through contributions from promoters, friends, well wishers, grant making agencies etc.
It does not means that we do not need financial support from you. You can keep contributing to Bihar Development Trust. Its an idea to build an organisation like TATA or infosys scale in Bihar and its foundation has been laid. We have to go through lot of struggles and challenges in future and we have to mentally prepared for it. Each stage of organisation life cycle brings its own challenges. We are going to consolidate and spread BDT culture in our 5 offices stretched across Bhagalpur, Patna and Aurangabad. We want to create a culture of excellence and never give up attitude in BDT Group. At this stage, I would like to sincerely thank all the colleagues of BDT group from office boy to accounts and MIS to area managers for their contribution in BDT growth. The chant of Jai Bihar in our offices and group meeting fills our heart with Pride.
Bihar is rising from Phoenix and Its an idea whose time has come.
Jai Bihar!!!!
Jai Bharat!!!
Thank you all for reading the mails. We will keep sharing updates with you. We thank our donors for keeping faith in us. We need your continuous Feedback.
Regards
Dr. Ravi Chandra
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