Rural women make rakhis to become self-reliant

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News ServiceSolan, July 23

In a bid to become self-reliant, about 200 self-help groups (SHGs) across the state have initiated rakhi-making activities, in view of the ensuing festival of Raksha Bandhan. The venture, which has been supported by the State Rural Livelihood Mission of the Rural Development (RD) Department, has already sold 2,000 rakhis across the state.

Using locally available material, the rural women have exhibited their versatile skills to make rakhis using silk threads, metals, sandalwood, glass and plastic beads, coloured stones and wool to make designer rakhis.

Lalit Jain, Director, RD Department, said, “Amid the call to boycott Chinese products, including rakhis, which flood the market every year, and the Prime Minister’s push for ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’, the women SHGs in the state are preparing designer rakhis for sale, ahead of the festival on August 3.”

He said these rakhis were being sold at makeshift stalls in the nearest markets in the rural as well as in the urban areas by the respective SHGs. Vyapar mandals had also come forward to provide space to sell these indigenous products across the state. This had given a boost to the rural women, Jain said.

Over 200 self-help groups were trained to make rakhis by the RD Department and this had helped them earn extra bucks during the pandemic, when income from other sources had shrunk.

By selling rakhies priced between Rs 10 to Rs 50, the rural women of Roshni SHG at Bhojnagar and Urja SHG at Basal in Solan are passionately pursing the venture. Adept at stitching and sewing, the initiative has provided them an opportunity to exhibit their craftsmanship.