Guwahati: In order to improve the condition of vendors, priests and other unorganized businesses in and around the temples in India, The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) is running a unique project named ` Temple Town’.
The pilot project currently is being implemented in six major towns of India in major temples, which are Puri from Orissa, Bodh Gaya from Bihar, Kollur from Karnataka, Haridwar from Uttarakhand, Varanasi from Uttar Pradesh and Pandharpur from Maharashtra.

Business North East spoke with the Project in Charge Utpal Bayan to know details about the unique project.

BNE: What is Temple town Project?
Utpal Bayan: The Temple Town Project is a pilot project started with the initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2021. It is an attempt to improve the condition entrepreneurs and other people in and around temples like shopkeepers, hotels, priests, tea stall owners, flower sellers, fruit sellers and the like.
The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) is the implementing Agency.

BNE: When did the project started?
Utpal Bayan: It started in 2021.

BNE: What are the names of the selected towns under the Temple Town Project?
Utpal Bayan: A total of six towns are selected for the Temple Town Project. Out of them, three are allotted to The National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and three are allotted to Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE).
The names are Puri from Orissa, Bodh Gaya from Bihar, Kollur from Karnataka, Haridwar from Uttarakhand, Varanasi from Uttar Pradesh and Pandharpur from Maharashtra.

BNE: How many towns IIE is handling?’
Utpal Bayan: Puri from Orissa, Bodh Gaya from Bihar, Kollur from Karnataka.

BNE: What is the scheme behind the project?
Utpal Bayan: It is in convergence with the existing schemes Start Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) and Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi) scheme.

BNE: How much fund is allocated for this project?
Utpal Bayan: A total of 5 crore is allocated for the project.

BNE: How many beneficiaries are selected each temple town?
Utpal Bayan: There are 300 beneficiaries for each temple town.

BNE: What plans and activities are going on in the project?
Utpal Bayan: There are many plans and activities going on the project. We are trying to upscale the condition of the existing entrepreneurs, hawkers, priests etc. At the same time, there are plans to bring more entrepreneurs within the fold of the temple town project. They are given training as how to start a business and also how to write a business proposal, how to do the documentation for applying loans from bank, in case of large business plans. We are trying to make them capable of competing with bigger businesses so that they can improve their living condition and thus, lead a dignified life.
IIE has appointed employees and hired consultancy for the project in the selected towns.

BNE: What is the revenue generated in the project?
Utpal Bayan: It cannot be told now we are doing a pilot project.

BNE: What is the duration of the project?
Utpal Bayan: The pilot project will continue till March 2023. Only after that new initiatives will be taken.

BNE: What are the future plans for any market linkage of the products of temple town?
Utpal Bayan: At present, there are plans to create a market linkage for the products they are planning to sell. In Kollur, plans to make areca nut leaves plant and agarbatti making plants. In Bodh Gaya, they got permission to establish stalls for making jute chappal and other jute products.

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