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INDIA: Some women entrepreneurs in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata have come up with a unique model of organised retail - they sell handicrafts and spices directly from mobile carts on the road.
Every morning, when people in Kolkata begin to stream out onto the streets, hurrying to offices or to schools, they are greeted by women managing small pushcarts at every corner.
The tiny carts are called 'Bous' (business operating units), which is also a familiar Bengali term for a married woman or a housewife.
Project Sukanya was spearheaded in Kolkata in 2005 as an employment generation scheme for women. It now gives local shopkeepers and retailers a run for their money with its increasing popularity as Bous sell everything from pickles and spices to handicrafts and home décor items.
The apron-clad women manning them are polite and knowledgeable about the products.
Aparna Das, CEO, Project Sukanya, said: "Every person should be a customer to me. That's the approach of business now. When you are talking about every person as a customer, then you obviously think of the road, a footpath, where everyone is moving."
The mobile kiosks offer products made by the local women and each pushcart can make nearly $2,000 a month. There are more than 160 women manning the carts, and another 5,000 women making the products for sale.
Reena Das, Bou Manager, said: "While working in Project Sukanya, I saved some money, with which I bought a piece of land and constructed a house for myself. This is the biggest achievement for my family and me."
The supply chain system of the pushcart has been patented under the Intellectual Property Rights Act of India.
Indians do not usually buy products in bulk, due to a lack of proper storage space. So while big retail chains are catching on in India, the local corner shops or the Bous remain integral to the shopping experience.
- CNA/so
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