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Stories and tales of ‘how hard work will change one’s future and fate’ seemed not be working for the members of a deaf and mute community in Delhi. Their dedication and willingness to fight the society by earning their own bread was all visible in their beautiful handicrafts, paintings, gift items and other items but the filled cupboards told another story of lost hope. Their hard work and products which were supposed to change their lives couldn’t reach the market.

“It was just another appalling sight of the plight that any college student who takes up a project on social welfare will surely encounter”, says Saurabh Patel one of the co-founders of Lithics.in. “The condition was such that even one of the heads of the NGO, which worked for these communities had to cut down on staff and take up a part time job to generate money for the organisations”, he says as he recalls the past times.

Taking lessons from one of their college projects at Cluster Innovation Centre and doing some further research, these students realised that the situation was not much different for other NGOs in the country. After days of pondering over the problem of market access to these communities, they came up with an idea of a creating a social enterprise that could help these marginalised communities sell their products at a full price to its customers. Aiming to end this plight, three students Desh Deepak Dwivedi, Saurabh Patel and Kirti Krishan started Lithics.in in order to provide an online marketplace for helping various NGOs and Co-Operative of weaker sections of the society like organisations of differently abled people, jail inmates, marginalised women from rural areas, local artisans, and war widows among many. Currently being housed in the Technology Business Incubator of Cluster Innovation Centre of the University of Delhi (DU).

Today more than thirty small and big organisations sell their products through their web portal. Ms.Sujata Kumari, the founder of Agrima Foundation who earlier had to cut down on the staff as she was unable to sell her products now has recruited several new of them. “Now I am busy packing products for the orders that I receive from as far as Darbhanga in Bihar to Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. Now I know that I am receiving my due recognition”, says Sujata.

Within six months Lithics has gone forward to win several accolades. From winning the Pollination Project Grant, receiving special appreciation at DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge Asia 2016 and was selected for entrepreneurship training at DO School Brazil. One of the co-founders got selected for Younus and Youth Fellowship program.

“We are planning to expand our reach of NGOs outside Delhi. Currently, we are eyeing towards Mumbai and Bangalore”, says Kirti Krishan who is one of the co-founders.

On being asked about what motivates them to work day in and day out, Desh Deepak says “Many people come across pain of marginalised people and go back by just showing sympathy. We wanted to do something more than that, so we empowered them. Their happiness is our sole currency.”

 

*Special Note

The start-up has made it to the final rounds the International Entrepreneurship for Good Program 2017, Brazil. You can make them win this competition by voting for them by clicking on the link given below.

https://thedoschool.org/ventures/lithics/

(You would need to enter your email and confirm the same on the mail that you receive in your mailbox)

*You can buy any of their products here to support weaker communities to earn a living.

 

Feature Image credits: Lithics.in fb page

 

Srivedant Kar

[email protected]

 

Amidst all the admission hustle, University of Delhi(DU) has released the news of the programme of preparatory classes for the students of the economically weaker sections. With this second consecutive year of the program, it seems like the University is giving all attentions to  the academic empowerment of students from all backgrounds. In this program, free classes will be held for the students who wish to apply for the entrance examinations for post-graduate courses in DU.

Coaching will be provided in English, Law, Mathematics, Physics and Zoology. Application forms will be accepted outside SGTB Khalsa College between Wednesday May 31 to Monday June 5 from 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm (Sunday Closed).  A fee of Rs. 100 will be charged for registration. The duration of the classes will be about two weeks. The list of the selected candidates will be out on June 6. As seats are limited, admission will be on the first come, first serve basis.

Applications are for Pre-Entrance Summer School 2017, for postgraduate admission tests for Economically Weaker Section (EWS/BPL,) SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), Minorities, PwD (EWS/BPL only). The candidates will be provisionally admitted to the ‘DU Pre-Entrance Summer School 2017’  till they complete the application procedure by applying online for the PG Entrance Examination at University of Delhi website, www.du.ac.in. Application Form for ‘DU Pre-Entrance summer School 2017’ may be downloaded from the same website. Tentative dates of start of the classes: 07.06.2017 for English and Law and 09.06.2017 for Mathematics, Physics and Zoology. The Pre-Entrance classes for all the disciplines will be held in the DU North Campus. And the time & venues will be notified in due course.

 

Image Credits: DU Beat

Radhika Boruah

[email protected]