Entries For: February 2008
2008-02-03
Bosch Vaahan
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A ‘vehicle’ of change in the lives of rural artisans
Long ago, I had heard this very interesting quote: ‘Sometimes things could be right under your nose, the only problem is your eyes are above it”. And that’s exactly what happened to me recently. I profile various for-profit and non-profit initiatives for the base of the pyramid, but ‘Bosch Vaahan’, an initiative from my employer Bosch, didn’t come to my notice until very recently.
Bosch Vaahan is an initiative of the Power Tools division of Bosch (not many people know that Bosch is not only about Automotive Technology). Launched in April 2006, the ‘Vaahan’ (which translates into a ‘vehicle’ in Hindi) is a mini-bus which carries sophisticated Power Tools to rural areas. A wide range of woodworking, construction and metalworking tools catering to the needs of rural carpenters, metalworking artisans, plumbers etc are carried by the ‘vaahan’, which visits different villages. Product demonstrations and information sessions are conducted by the ‘vaahan’ officials in rural areas. Rural artisans can try out these tools for their work. The tools are available for purchase to rural artisans at subsidized prices. Bosch has tied up with several banks, including Canara Bank and Andhra Bank, to offer attractive loan schemes for the rural folk to buy these tools.
The ‘vaahan’ traveled extensively in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh states of Southern India in its first phase and became quite popular. This popularity encouraged Bosch to launch a similar vaahan in North India last year. Plans are afoot to launch more vaahans to cater to the Western, Eastern and Central parts of India.
The Vaahan is a wonderful initiative since it creates win-win situations for all the stakeholders involved – Bosch has found a new market for its products; rural artisans get access to the latest tools to enhance their skills and products; banks can disburse more loans in rural areas. This is a novel way of market creation at the base of the pyramid and blends well with the Bosch tag line: ‘Invented for Life’!
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