Chennai Istriwalas witness a 28% rise in monthly net income with LPG-based Istri boxes

New Delhi, December 14, 2023: Udhyam Vyapaar, a program of Udhyam Learning Foundation focusing on nano-entrepreneurs, has launched the impact evaluation report of its Istri Project. The report, prepared by Azim Premji University, highlights a 28% rise in monthly net income of Chennai’s Istriwalas with LPG based Istri boxes among other findings.

Udhyam Learning Foundation is a non-profit organization on a mission to make Bharat entrepreneurial.  Udhyam Vyapaar’s Istri Project is an initiative aimed at transforming input fuel for ironing vyapaaris from coal to LPG. The program is currently running in Bangalore and Chennai, and has impacted the lives of over 5000+ ironing vyapaaris so far. This study was aimed at evaluating the measurable impact of their Istri Project in Chennai by assessing productivity, incomes, fuel consumption and expenditure and net returns over 15 months.

The survey was done among 1331 ironing vyapaaris in Chennai which included those who did not opt for LPG-based iron boxes. Some key findings from the study include:

- 23.3% increase in daily productivity: 85% of the Istriwalas saw an increase in their daily productivity by 23.3% i.e. they could iron 29 more clothes per day on average.

- 23.6% increase in average daily income and 18% in average monthly income: 80% of the Istriwalas experienced an increase in their average daily incomes by approximately 23.6% or INR 184.5 and thus an 18% increase in monthly income i.e. by INR 3080.25.

- 45% fall in fuel consumption amounting to 28% increase in monthly net return: A significant 77% saw a 45% fall in fuel consumption, resulting in a whopping 45% decrease in fuel expenditure; this has significantly increased their average monthly net return by 28% i.e. by INR 4210.

Speaking on this transformative impact, Krishnan Ranganathan, Director, Udhyam Vyapaar and Co-Founder, Udhyam Learning Foundation said, “Udhyam Vyapaar’s mission is to improve the lives of nano-entrepreneurs by solving specific business challenges and enabling them to operate with an entrepreneurial mindset.”

“In the case of the Istri Project, the impact extends beyond convenience and financial prosperity. Currently we have already positively impacted over 5,000+ ironing vyapaaris, resulting in a collective income upliftment of more than INR 25 crores annually. The project has also made substantial strides towards a greener future, with an annual reduction of 2.5K tonnes of coal consumption. Our goal is to be able to positively impact the next 10,000 over the next three years via the Istri Project”, he added.

Speaking on the impact generated by the Udhyam Vyapaar Istri Project, Kedar Kulkarni, Assistant Professor, Azim Premji University, said, “The world is seeking alternatives to coal and other non-renewable energy sources as a means to tackle climate change. It is now imperative to look for more sustainable and efficient clean energy sources. The Istri project serves as an alternative at such a crucial juncture and is an excellent initiative by Udhyam to bring in a positive transformation in the Istri Vyapar Market. Their innovative LPG Iron box is a wonderful example of how clean energy fuels can be introduced in small-scale businesses to replace coal while also uplifting the incomes and working conditions of the vulnerable Istri vyaaparis."

"Our analysis shows that Udhyam Vyapaar's intervention in the Istri Market had a positive impact on vyapaari's productivity and income. We find that switching to an LPG-powered Iron-box resulted in an increase in daily productivity by 23.3% or 29 more clothes ironed per day on average. Furthermore, vyapaaris that adopted the LPG Iron Box experienced an increase in their daily incomes by approximately 23.6% or an increase of INR 184.5 per day, on average." he added.