Custom Hiring Centers: A New Pathway to Economic Empowerment in Rural Chhotaudepur, Gujarat

Custom Hiring Centers

A New Pathway to Economic Empowerment in Rural Chhotaudepur, Gujarat

This blog focuses on how Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) facilitated by Shroffs Foundation Trust in collaboration with Gujarat Gas and Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company (GLPC) has addressed the gap of lack of access to resources to rural women and shaped their economic futures.

The visually shy KantaBen Rangshi Bhai Rathwa from Vantda village in Kawant block, Chhotaudepur, greets me with a warm smile as I gently ease into our conversation. Once hesitant and reserved, KantaBen, along with her fellow women, are now confident and proud to have a business on their own. Together, they are active members of the Jay Yogeshwar Custom Hiring Centre, an initiative launched by Shroffs Foundation Trust in collaboration with GLPC, empowering rural women through access to farm equipment and livelihood opportunities.

Bridging the Gap with Custom Hiring Centers

Kavant and Naswadi blocks in Chhotaudepur district have long faced economic and social challenges, making sustainable livelihood initiatives crucial for their development. Recognizing their need, Shroffs Foundation Trust (SFT), in collaboration with Gujarat Gas and Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company (GLPC), launched the Custom Hiring Center (CHC) program in both the villages to strengthen local livelihoods, especially the tribal women. Prevailing gender norms can make it difficult for women to access resources and benefit from various programs. It is hence important to foster gender-inclusive ecosystem to make women economically and socially empowered.

Tribal women from both the blocks are the primary beneficiaries of this CHC initiative. These women are mobilized into Self Help Groups for each CHC. The CHC initiative was designed to provide farming communities with access to essential agricultural machinery, reducing their dependency on costly private rentals. These centers were equipped with tractors, rotavators, cultivators, ploughs, and trolleys, ensuring farmers could enhance productivity while minimizing operational costs.

A structured guideline for CHC management was developed with the involvement of Mission Mangalam field staff, Taluka Development Officers (TDOs), Taluka Livelihood Managers (TLMs), District Livelihood Managers (DLMs), and SHG members. This ensured efficient operations and resource utilization.

Formation of Jay Yogeshwar Custom Hiring Center

One such successful CHC, Jay Yogeshwar Custom Hiring Center, was established in Tava and Vantda villages of Kavant block. The CHC was formed by two SHGs—Jay Bajrang SHG from Vantda and Jay Shivshankar SHG from Tava. Five women from each SHG were selected to lead the initiative, actively supported by their families and village leaders.

Jay Yogeshwar CHC officially commenced operations on January 29, 2025. The members collectively invested Rs. 60,000 in a tractor along with essential farming equipment, including a rotavator, cultivator, plough, and trolley. Within just one month and 19 days, the CHC earned a net income of Rs. 78,300 by renting out the machinery to local farmers.

Given that many of the women involved had limited formal education, their families played a crucial role in financial management and record-keeping. A dedicated register was introduced to maintain transparency and track earnings effectively.

The women involved in the CHC come from families that primarily rely on agriculture and Seasonal migration for their livelihood. Despite limited formal education, they saw the potential of this initiative and took leadership roles, with five members from each SHG forming CHC. A tractor driver was hired to manage the machinery, ensuring efficient service to farmers.

The CHC functions as a rental service, offering affordable access to agricultural machinery. This has not only generated income for the CHC members but has also reduced dependency on expensive private rentals for local farmers. However, challenges such as machinery maintenance, tire punctures, and managing finances with limited financial literacy remain areas that require continued effort and support.

Kokila ben, president of Jay yogeshwar CHC shared, “Running the CHC has been a learning experience for us. We are learning how to manage finance from our family member and negotiate with farmers. There are challenges like tyre puncture, but we are able to solve it them together.”

Pathway to Economic Strengthening

The success of Jay Yogeshwar CHC highlights the potential of collective action in addressing economic challenges in rural areas. By equipping SHGs with the necessary tools and knowledge, this initiative is creating a model for sustainable development, enhancing agricultural productivity, and improving rural livelihoods.

Through this initiative, rural women have gained a role in income-generating activities, reinforcing the importance of inclusive economic participation. The experience of the women running the CHC is an example on how access to resources is provided to women, they become both economically and socially empowered.

Alka Dadheech works as a Research Executive with SFT, where she contributes in generating evidence to support livelihood and skill development initiatives.