After a decade of experience in microfinance and community development activities, VSSU learnt that microfinance alone is not sufficient for economic development and empowerment of the community. Generating employment opportunities is an essential development initiative that can harmonize the microfinance services with social development activities. To achieve this, VSSU is in the process of setting up the 'Jeebika Foundation', an institution dedicated to promoting sustainable livelihood among low income households. The foundation aims to connect these new employment opportunities with its existing microfinance and community development services.

So far, VSSU has already collected more than 100 acres of land and canal to be used for livelihood promotion and entered into a joint venture with Jaipur Rugs Foundation, a carpet manufacturing company to train women in carpet weaving skills. Other initiatives include mushroom cultivation training, production of jute bags, 'Jodi' work and embroidery of saris, to name a few. VSSU has recently partnered with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore as one consortium partner for a project on Sustainable harvesting processing and value addition of wild bee honey. The project is to be funded by the World Bank through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the National Agricultural Innovation Program (NAIP) with other consortium partners.

VSSU in collaboration with the University of Agricultural Science (UAS) has established the honey processing unit ( A value chain on wild honey bee project , supported by World Bank through ICAR) currently situated in the far end of the Oceanic Library. It's part of the Jeebika Livelihood project intended to provide employment to the traditional honey hunters in the Sunderbans.

Since April 2010 eighty traditional honey hunters have been trained in the sustainable method of honey harvesting in different groups through practical trials and demonstrations in a participatory method. The income level of the traditional honey hunters have been increased phenomenally. Generally the traditional honey hunters are forced to sell their harvested honey to the forest department forRs.50-55 per K.G. With the installation honey processing unit at Ullon they are receiving on the average Rs.120 per K.G. of the honey. Consequently the project has more than doubled their income.

Goal of this project was:

• To improve the living conditions, income level and Socio-economic status of the traditional honey hunters.
• Traditional honey hunters have learnt new Technology in sustainable honey harvesting.
• The honey collection skill of traditional honey hunters has been upgraded.