And a new email id!!

Yes.. after months of dilly dallying.. have finally moved to gmail.com . Esha braille is now also accessible at eshabraille@gmail.com

Use this id to chat with us, connect with us in other ways.. and of course, to email..

I love the convenience of gmail, and hate the interface of wordpress.. there, thats 2 pennies of opinion

Have a nice day people!

aavishkaar.org – Venture Capitalism Innovation

Don’t let the MBA jargon in the title fool you – the concept is even better than the MBA jargon makes it sound, but the idea is so simple it is brilliant.

What amazes me is the sheer amount of good work going on around us – like the river Saraswati.. quiet, underground, relentless..

Here it is in their own words:

The firm provides micro-equity funding (Rs. 10 lacs to Rs. 2 Crore), approximately USD $20 thousand to USD $500 thousand) and operational and strategic support to commercially viable companies increasing income in or providing goods and services to rural or semi-urban India.

Here are the key words: (aka, why i loved the concept)

Equity : This is important. This means that the enterprise being invested in, is not put under the strain of an interest burden. This also means that the entrepreneur gets access to money without being bound to a payout schedule. When working capital is marginal, this can be an important feature.

Operational and Strategic Support: This part, me likes best. Micro entrepreneurs have the feel of the ground, but not enough support in terms of operational efficiency or Strategy formulation. In these areas, a support at the right time can mean the difference between a creature surviving from day to day, and an organisation planning its growth deliberately, firmly, surely.

Income: Anything that generates income at the micro level, in the rural and semi urban areas, is good. Simply because it creates livelihood without displacement.

This is where you can find out more about Aavishkaar:   

http://www.aavishkaar.org/projects.htmhttp://www.microfinancefocus.com/news/?p=568http://www.aavishkaar.org/projects.htm

http://www.microfinancefocus.com/news/?p=568http://www.microfinancefocus.com/news/?p=568

http://www.aavishkaar.org/Aavishkaar%20presentation.ppt#260,8,Servals Automation Private Ltd

http://www.slideshare.net/tbliconference/experience-sharing-of-sustainable-private-equity-funds 

http://www.aavishkaar.org/projects.htm

 

http://www.microfinancefocus.com/news/?p=568

We’re getting a new website design!

Soon! If all goes well, very soon, the website www.braillecards.org will have a professional new design. Will tell you more about it in the next post..

IN other news, the hugely popular Mad Momma wrote a post about Esha.. here: http://themadmomma.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/esha-people-for-the-blind/

Sometimes ago, we did a small Blogathon for Esha .. where a set of bloggers got together and blogged about Esha at the same time. The objective was two fold – to check the brand creation impact of blogs and to run  a Blogathon for Esha. The updated list of blogs on the Esha website reflects this list. The participating bloggers are:

http://delhidreams.blogspot.com/2009/07/candle-and-night.html

 

http://sandwaves.blogspot.com/2008/07/for-love-of-people.html

 

http://letterstomayank.blogspot.com/2009/07/esha-awareness.html

 

http://chhotichhotisibaat.blogspot.com/2009/07/f-j-5.html

 

http://nut-a-tut.blogspot.com/2009/07/esha-for-blind.html

 

http://sidhusaaheb.blogspot.com/2009/07/brilliant-business-idea-or-anachronism.html

 

http://mypugmarks.blogspot.com/2009/07/esha-be-aware.html

 

http://aaina.jagdishbhatia.com/2009/07/blog-post_14.html

A BIG thanks to all of them for taking the time to post about Esha. They did a pre awareness, an awareness post and a post awareness post. Am in the process of creating a detailed report, and will post it soon. A report is also due to every blogger who participated in the blogathon.. its coming soon..

If you are on the Esha blog, please do comment.. we’d like to know what you think… really!

OMG.. i havent been blogging..

.. when there is so very much to blog about!

First up, we got a great write up by Geetanjali in the Business Standard -
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/geetanjali-krishnasight-for-sore-eyes/365547/.365340.

Then, have to let you all know about this fantastic event by Partho Bhowmick in Mumbai.. do go if you are anywhere in Mumbai.. it will be sooo worth it.

Antarchakshu (The Eye Within), a sensitization workshop cum photo exhibition by visually impaired aimed to spread awareness about the lives of the visually impaired.
The photo exhibition showcases new pictures taken by the visually impaired students of the St. Xavier’s College and artworks of 15 blind photographers / artists across the world who had inspired me to start the Blind With Camera project in 2006.

Antarchakshu will be held at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai during Malhar Festival from August 14 – 16, 2009, 10 am – 4.30 pm.

www.blindwithcamera.org

Theres lots more to write about.. and i promise to catch up soon…