In the ongoing National Agriculture Fair, the red, green, orange coloured herbal ‘gulal’ are drawing crowds. It has been prepared by Bhoomi Self-Help Group of Tilda, Raipur district.
Member of SHG Meera Kanauje said in view of upcoming Holi festival, the group having around 3000 women members has prepared the herbal colours using natural materials. For green colour of gulal, the leaves of marigold and spinach have been used while for yellow colour marigold flower, turmeric and gram flour have been used. The orange colour has been prepared from beetroot and Amaranthus red (Lal Bhaji). She added that all are chemical free and hence these colours will not cause any harm to the skin.
Kanauje further said that another group Astha Mahila Gram Sanghatan, is working in the field of agriculture as maximum women members are uneducated. Under Bihan scheme, they were imparted training to make different products. Apart from herbal colours, they also prepare lamp from cow-dung, flower pots etc. The lamps are being sold at Nagpur, Delhi, Rajasthan, Raipur fetching an income of around Rs 5 lakh for the group. She added that now women are preparing herbal tooth powder along with other organic products. This supplemented their household income.