In almost every Indian community, ironing vyapaaris have long been a mainstay. Many times, these vyapaaris are independent company owners with support from their family. In addition to becoming migrants, many vypaaris relocate to Tier 1/Tier 2 cities in pursuit of job prospects. These vyapaaris, who typically make between Rs. 10–15K (US$ 120–180) a month in Chennai, sometimes pursue this industry at a young age due to caste or a lack of other possibilities with the help of Udhyam Vyapaar.
Our investigation revealed that ironing vyapaaris' primary business asset—the coal iron box, where coal is the input fuel—is their greatest obstacle. It has been increasingly difficult for ironing vyapaaris to maintain and expand their companies due to the existing state of the market and the lack of evolution in the coal iron box as a product over the last few decades.
Every morning, vyapaaris would spend over two hours heating coal, consuming valuable time that they could have utilised to get an early start and generate more revenue. Rainy days make it nearly impossible to heat coal, which makes it much more difficult for them to do business. There is no temperature control on the coal iron boxes, and garments may get ruined if coal spills out of the box. The long-term health effects of using coal as fuel and breathing in coal fumes are added to this.
Many of the financial difficulties associated with using a coal iron box are resolved by using an LPG iron box instead, which also offers a cleaner fuel that lowers emissions and benefits vyapaaris' health by preventing frequent exposure to coal fumes.
The Istri Project significantly reduces carbon emissions while improving the health of the vyapaaris by replacing approximately 2,000 metric tonnes of coal that are used annually in Chennai's streets with LPG.
The change is advantageous because retail coal prices have just increased by ₹5.
The ironing men (istriwalahs) of Chennai are switching from coal to LPG in order to reduce their use of fossil fuels. According to a study by Azim Premji University, the switch to LPG-based Istri Boxes has assisted the istriwalahs in decreasing expenditures and increasing monthly net revenue. With retail coal prices rising by ₹5 lately, the switch to LPG will be beneficial. Monthly revenues have climbed by 18% while fuel expenses have decreased by 45%, resulting in a 28% gain in average monthly net return. The goal of Udhyam Vyapaar's Istri Project of the Udhyam Learning Founder, an NGO, was to switch from coal to LPG as the input fuel for ironing Vyapaaris.
More than 5,000 ironing vyapaaris have benefited from the programme, which is presently being implemented in Chennai and Bangalore. Using data from 15 months of fuel use and expenditure, productivity, earnings, and net returns, the study assessed the demonstrable effects of the Istri Project by Udhyam Vyapaar in Chennai. 1331 Chennai-based ironing vyapaaris, including those who chose not to use LPG-powered iron boxes, participated in the poll. A 23.3% rise in daily productivity was reported in the poll, with 85% of Istriwalahs reporting a similarly high level of production. That is, according to the report, they could iron an average of 29 extra clothing per day.
The average daily revenues of about eighty percent of the Istriwalas increased by around twenty-six percent, or ₹184.5. This was an increase in income of ₹3080.25, or 18%, each month. According to the poll, there was a 45% decrease in gasoline use, which increased their average monthly net return by 28%, or ₹4,210, the announcement stated. The influence of the Istri Project goes beyond comfort and financial gain. As of right now, it has improved the lives of more than 5,000 ironing vyapaaris, raising their combined income by more than ₹25 crores a year. Along with significant progress towards a cleaner future, the project has reduced its yearly coal use by 2,500 tonnes. Through the Istri Project by Udhyam Vyapaar, it is hoped to have a good influence on the next 10,000 throughout the next three years.
In order to combat climate change, the globe is looking for alternatives to coal and other non-renewable energy sources, according to Kedar Kulkarni, assistant professor at Azim Premji University. Searching for more efficient and sustainable renewable energy sources is increasingly essential. The Istri project is a great endeavour by Udhyam to bring about a good transition in the Istri Vyapar Market and provides an option at this critical juncture. Their creative LPG Iron Box serves as a fantastic illustration of how clean energy sources may be incorporated into small-scale industries to replace coal, improving the working conditions and earnings of the disadvantaged Istri vyaaparis in the process.
Health and income have improved significantly, according to U Nachimuthu, an Istriman in Anna Nagar, when he switched to an LPG iron box. The garments may be ironed quickly and easily with the help of the box, which saves even more time. S Kaladevi, who irons at home in Shenoy Nagar, claims that her family members can use the box with ease and occasionally assist her with the ironing. The woman says she makes good progress with this box and finds it easy to use.
The way thousands of other vyapaaris in Chennai have seen their livelihoods transformed, as has U Nachimuthu's, is evidence of the effectiveness of product-led interventions that may grow to significantly influence a specific group of nano-entrepreneurs. It raises the issue of what additional means of subsistence might we improve via improved access to goods and opportunities? Udhyam is still searching for and assisting these nano-entrepreneurs as they drive the nation's economic growth and advancement of humanity.
In order to assist local groups in adopting these practices and guiding them in carrying out the programme objectives, we are working towards publishing a playbook that will include all of the procedures, instruments, and materials utilised for the project under open licencing. We are also considering implementing a knowledge partner strategy, in which we collaborate with groups that have local expertise and networks to better implement the programme while taking regional requirements into account, in order to spread the initiative to other geographies. To join us on this trip, send us an email at contact@udhyam.org.
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