New custom hiring centre helps women in Samrala step into entrepreneurship

Women of Kulewal village in Samrala are rewriting their futures with the launch of a new custom hiring centre that puts entrepreneurship in their hands. With the inauguration of such a centre for multi-commodity processing and value addition, rural women are stepping into roles of entrepreneurs, producers and change makers.

Organised under the leadership of Dr Mridula Devi, Director of ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (CIWA), Bhubaneswar, the event brought together 50 participants — farm women, self-help group members, scientists and local panchayat representatives — all united by a shared vision of empowerment.

“We’ve always worked hard, but now our work has value,” said Balwinder Kaur, a member of the Noor Self-Help Group. “Making pickles and turmeric powder used to be just household chores. Now, it’s a source of income and pride,” she added.

Dr Devi lauded the efforts of the panchayat and the women who have embraced this initiative with open arms. She emphasised that the centre would not only reduce physical strain through drudgery-reducing tools, but also open doors to skill development and sustainable livelihoods.

“Earlier, I didn’t know how to price or package anything,” shared Gurmeet Kaur, who now makes ‘karonda’ candies and herbal soaps. “With training and support, I feel confident to sell my products in the market,” she said.

Dr Prerna Kapila from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) highlighted the transformative journeys of Noor and Bakshish Ajeevika Self-Help Groups, whose members have successfully ventured into small-scale processing of items like jams, candles and handbags. Their stories, she said, are proof that rural women, when equipped with tools and knowledge, can become pillars of local economies. These village women are hopeful for future expansion and market linkages.

“We are no longer just helpers in the field — we are producers, earners and decision-makers,” said Jaswinder Kaur, a local farmer. “This centre has given us more than machines. It has given us belief.”

“I’ve been using herbal soaps made by the Bakshish Ajeevika Self-Help Group for over a year now. They’re gentle, fragrant and feel far more authentic than store-bought brands. Supporting these women feels like investing in something real,” said Simran Arora, a resident of Ludhiana.

As the sun sets over Kulewal, the newly inaugurated centre stands not just as a building, but as a symbol of possibility — where rural women are reclaiming their lives.