LED manufacturing unit empowers tribal women in Andhra

RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM (AP): An LED manufacturing unit, established with the aim to empower tribal women, is producing over one lakh energy-saving lamps per month. The initiative is giving new direction to the lives of over 50 tribals.
State Energy Conservation Mission Chief Executive Officer (CEO) A Chandrasekhar Reddy inspected the manufacturing unit at Rampachodavaram on Saturday and interacted with the tribals who are involved in the manufacturing of LED bulbs.
"Efforts are on to market the LED bulbs manufactured here," Reddy said.
Assembling of LED lights does not require highly skilled manpower and the district administration thought it was fit to create a sustainable business model for the local tribal people. The model was initiated for women empowerment.
After exploring manufacturing capabilities and studying the market for LED lighting products over eight months, a firm called M/s Rampa Girijan Mahila Samakhya (RGMS) was formed by and for the tribal women, an official release said.
With the initial assistance from project officer, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), the RGMS bought training material worth Rs 20 lakh for manufacture of LED bulbs, tubelights, street lights and decorative lights, among others.
A five-week on job training was imparted to the work force to acquire necessary skills and procurement of semi knock-down kits which contain all approved components required for a marketable product.
Stringent inspection was planned at different stages, like procurement of raw material, work in progress, finished products and package, the statement said.
The LED bulb manufacturing unit was set up last year with Rs 25 lakh in which 45 tribal women were initially employed.
Currently 51 women, headed by a CEO who is a B.Tech qualified tribal woman, are working toward a planned monthly production capacity of 125,000 bulbs, 4,400 tube lights, 6,000 street lights and other luminaries.
The profit margins that remain after the value addition cost of the product are used to meet salary requirements, the statement added.