AbstractCommunity-based businesses (CBBs) are important in

developing rural areas. This project evaluated the

feasibility of CBB’s in Northern India’s Kamand Valley.

Through interviews with fifty-seven respondents, we

obtained information on resources, interest in participating

in a CBB, and products purchased in the market. Our

findings indicated potential for the development of a CBB in

the Kamand Valley, and an assortment of products. We

made recommendations for two prospective CBB’s:

producing soap made from soapnuts, and creating

handwoven products.

Project Goal and Objectives

Findings

RecommendationsShort Term: Long Term:

Feasibility of

Community-Based Businesses

in the Kamand ValleySarahRose Gabor (BME), Brittany Mowe (MAC), Andrej Samardzic (AE)

Mohit Sharma-B12006(CSE), Paramjit Singh Kainth-B12136(ME),

Shreya Tangri-B12070 (ECE)

Advisor: Professor Lorraine Higgins (WPI), Professor Ingrid Shockey (WPI)

Dr. Priscilla Gonsalves (IIT), Professor Jaspreet Kaur Randhawa (IIT)

Investigate the feasibility of developing a

community-based business in

villages of the Kamand Valley.

Explore Resources

of the Mandi

District

Solicit Feedback

from Identified

Village

Assess Local

Interest

Identify a Village

with Potential Success

Apply Criteria to

Raw Materials &

Products

Goal

Obj 1

Obj 2

Obj 3

Obj 4

Obj 5

Enhance cooperation around NRLM schemes.

Re-analyze potential for weaving CBB based on

changing markets associated with IIT.

Create a Valley-based CBB guide that will outline

planning.

Develop business plan with resident to pilot and

model a CBB

Objective 1

24 Raw Materials Total

Wheat, Maize Soapnuts, Rice

Cows

Skills:

Agriculture Weaving

Knitting Sewing

Programs:

National Rural Livelihoods

Mission

Identified Resources

Objective 2

Soapnut Entrepreneur Village with Potential:

Navlay Community Interest

Objective 4 Objective 5

Objective 3

Market Potential

ProfitabilityEasy

Process

Easy Collection

Soapnuts

Startup Costs ( ₹) Unit Cost (₹) Labor Time (Hrs) MSRP (₹) Profit (₹) Number Sold to

Break Even

Pot 5000 Bag 10 Collection 1 500 410 13

Lye 10 Production 3

Oil 70

Total 5000 Total 90 Total 4

Solid Liquid Frozen Bar Soap

AbstractCommunity-based businesses (CBBs) are important in

developing rural areas. This project evaluated the

feasibility of CBB’s in Northern India’s Kamand Valley.

Through interviews with fifty-seven respondents, we

obtained information on resources, interest in participating

in a CBB, and products purchased in the market. Our

findings indicated potential for the development of a CBB in

the Kamand Valley, and an assortment of products. We

made recommendations for two prospective CBB’s:

producing soap made from soapnuts, and creating

handwoven products.

Project Goal and Objectives

Findings

Recommendations

Feasibility of

Community-Based Businesses

in the Kamand ValleySarahRose Gabor (BME), Brittany Mowe (MAC), Andrej Samardzic (AE)

Mohit Sharma-B12006(CSE), Paramjit Singh Kainth-B12136(ME),

Shreya Tangri-B12070 (ECE)

Advisor: Professor Lorraine Higgins (WPI), Professor Ingrid Shockey (WPI)

Dr. Priscilla Gonsalves (IIT), Professor Jaspreet Kaur Randhawa (IIT)

Investigate the feasibility of developing a

community-based business in

villages of the Kamand Valley.

Explore Resources

of the Mandi

District

Solicit Feedback

from Identified

Village

Assess Local

Interest

Identify a Village

with Potential Success

Apply Criteria to

Raw Materials &

Products

Goal

Obj 1

Obj 2

Obj 3

Obj 4

Obj 5

Objective 1

24 Raw Materials Total

Wheat, Maize Soapnuts, Rice

Cows

Skills:

Agriculture Weaving

Knitting Sewing

Programs:

National Rural Livelihoods

Mission

Identified Resources

Objective 2

Soapnut Entrepreneur Village with Potential:

Navlay Community Interest

Objective 4 Objective 5

Objective 3

Market Potential

ProfitabilityEasy

Process

Easy Collection

Soapnuts

Startup Costs ( ₹) Unit Cost (₹) Labor Time (Hrs) MSRP (₹) Profit (₹) Number Sold to

Break Even

Pot 5000 Bag 10 Collection 1 500 410 13

Lye 10 Production 3

Oil 70

Total 5000 Total 90 Total 4

Solid Liquid Frozen Bar Soap

Soapnut Grinder

Enhance cooperation around NRLM schemes.

Re-analyze potential for weaving CBB based on

changing markets associated with IIT.

Create a Valley-based CBB guide that will

outline planning.

Develop business plan with resident to pilot

and model a CBB

Short Term: Long Term: