International Women’s day: Manning it without men, Solan women lead the way

Ambika Sharma

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Solan, March 7

Where there is a will there is a way — this age-old adage aptly describes four enthusiastic women who have ventured on the Solan-Kumarhatti national highway to earn a living. They are serving local cuisines to the passersby, apart from selling handmade items at small outlet covered by a canopy at the Swarnim Vatika near Samlech.

The initiative has been supported by a local women’s co-operative, Jagriti Mahila Gram Sangathan, under the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). Jagriti Mahila Gram Sangathan is a conglomerate of many small mahila mandals.

The Forest Division, Solan, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the women’s co-operative, which has about 70 women from the area as members, permitting them the use of Swarnim Vatika at the National Highway bypass. “A modest rent of Rs 6,000 per year is taken, and it would be utilised for park maintenance,” said Divisional Forest Officer, Solan, Kunal Angrish.

The joint venture comprises removable HIM IRA outlets serving local cuisine. Prefabricated toilets have also been provided for the cooperative group members and visitors.

Led by gram sangthan head Nishi Radhan of Samlech village, three other women from nearby villages like Nasaal and Bagger have joined the venture.

“We wanted to set up a small outlet on the road to enhance our income as we hail from a poor family. Our husbands work in factories and we have to look after the cattle and small fields before we venture out to sell local cuisines,” Nishi said.

She has studied up to Class XII and is purspuing further studies, while other women are school drop-outs who have little else to do to supplement their family income.

“We serve saag, sidu, kari chawal and local cuisines like lushke kheer, malpure, patande, etc., to the visitors who have evinced keen interest in these food items,” Nishi added.

The kiosk is also utilised to sell homemade wool products, pine needles, pickles, chutneys, etc.

The women trudge a distance of a few kilometres on foot to reach their workplace from their village. They also carry with them semi-prepared food items as well as other items which are stored in their village.

“We are unable to hire three-wheelers as vehicles will have to drive on the wrong side to reach the park from Solan. This compels us to walk from our homes, and it takes us nearly an hour,” informed Nishi, who was trained under the national rural livelihood mission to run a gram sangathan where women’s groups are registered online and a slew of activities are undertaken for women welfare.

Having availed a loan of Rs 60,000 from the gram sanghathan, the women hope to expand their venture through more outlets after business picks up. “We are looking forward to adjusting more women in other outlets when our work picks up,” quips Nishi, who said the chosen women need to supplement their family income, but have no resources.

This outlet was inaugurated by ADC Ajay Yadav last week, who and other officers savoured the local cuisine.