Sunheri sugandh
Sunehri Sugandh: India's Tree of Gold is a post-pandemic employment generator that enables workers with limited skill, training and qualification to engage in handicraft production and packaging. My product line consists of various forms of raw sandalwood and personal care products with sandalwood as a base ingredient. Keeping in mind that packaging and branding requirements are minimal when dealing with B2B operations, I have concentrated the revenue generation through B2B collaborations. As a result, only a tiny fraction of the income comes from B2C sales. Following the B2B model allowed us to generate a lump sum earning quickly that provided immediate relief for our workers in dire straits because of the pandemic
A Successful journey of sunheri sugandh
Sunheri Sugandh is an expression of my concern, worry and subsequent motivation to support families of unskilled workers who had gone without any income for months during the lockdown.
As numerous enterprises did not survive the lockdown and economic decomposition, these families had no potential source of income even after the lockdown was lifted.
Having undergone the trauma of being migrant workers in a city away from home, several workers hesitated to return to the city. Still, they could not find employment that generated a comfortable enough income.
Deeply concerned about the vast number of households undergoing all this suffering, I wanted to find a way to bring some relief.
Operating a sandalwood factory of his own, I knew my father would have some ideas on how I could implement an employment program to support such families. So, with his guidance, I initiated my campaign wherein I would use the surplus sandalwood from my father's factory to generate employment, set up trade ventures and create a source of income. This surplus sandalwood was otherwise simply being stocked away and accumulated.
This inventory was also quickly approaching the end of its shelf life if not processed further as operations had been halted for over 3 months during the lockdown, costing essential time.
To compile a product catalogue for establishing trade contracts, I used my skills and technical know-how as a photographer to capture attractive product photography.
Utilising a small portion of the storage unit where the surplus sandalwood was stored, I began operating with a group of just 3 people to weight and package sandalwood for sale as raw material to other companies.
Sunheri Sugandh has since grown to include a team of 15 workers who efficiently handle queries, process order requests and complete, timely deliveries.
The operations have grown to include a small segment of personal care products such as soaps.
As the workforce has expanded to include more people, the initiative now caters to orders from brands that outsource their production and packaging.
I have created a website that features the stories of the employees who joined the family and a product catalogue for potential business initiatives.