Women living in remote villages of the State are making constant efforts for livelihood augmentation and income earning by organising themselves in self-help groups under District Poverty Initiative Project.
Meaningful effort has been made to connect women with permanent livelihood through preparation of incense sticks by pedal machines in Rewa district of Vindhya region. So far, women have produced 30 tonnes of incense sticks and earned profit by selling them through their self-help group Akshar Agarbatti Nirman Sahkari Samiti with the help of DPIP. Society’s turnover was about Rs. 24 lakh last year. The women’s self-help group transacted scented incense stick business worth Rs 2.80 lakh during only last two months.
Inspection of this livelihood activity of producing and selling Namami brand incense sticks by women’s self-help group was made recently by Additional Chief Secretary Panchayats and Rural Development Aruna Sharma. She has lauded efforts of the self-help group for running Akshar Agarbatti Sahkari Samiti for production and sale of incense sticks.
This process was initiated by organised women of village Jori and Kheera Gaon in the district. About 65 women of both villages are connected with this work.
According to society president Urmila, raw material for making incense sticks including bamboo sticks, premix material is brought from Ahmedabad, Delhi and Katni. Raw incense sticks are sent for sale to Rewa, Katni, Satna etc. Society’s vice-president Shivkali said that they get about Rs. 3000 to 4000 per month easily. last month, their income was over Rs 30,000. They have started other occupations also through this income. Savitri of Kheera Gaon said that this is a respectable employment. Now, she needs not work as labourer for others. lalti, Rajkali and Gondia Kol of the village said that this work carried out under roof is very easy and good for women. Shanty Kol said her livelihood depends of incense stick making only.
About a dozen women including Shivkali also participated in implementation-related function of National Rural livelihoods Missoin at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi recently.