Mahendranagar: Lakshmi Mahata, a 50-year-old from Mahendranagar, was a full-time housewife a year ago. Once she finishes household works, she spends her days away-she says. Ever since the factory was established in her neighborhood, things have changed for the better today. She is now employed and earns a good income. The factory produces handmade brooms and other products made of bamboo.
Lakshmi said-” I come early, after I cook food for the family, and return to make supper. It’s a good use of my free time. More importantly, I have learned a new skill.” She added that she earns about Rs 600 daily.
The women working with Lakshmi prepares up to 150 brooms a day and get paid Rs 4 for each product. Basanti Bam, who lives in a rented flat in Mahendranagar, said- “With the money, we can now contribute to buy daily essentials.”They say-“Since they are paid based on the pieces they produce; the workload is not so burdening.” Basanti and Lakshmi works daily for six hours.
The owner, Lal Bahadur Gharti, said-“The factory, Bindhabasini Bamboo Cottage Industry, was established a year ago and trained the workers before hiring them. We are proud of what we do. We use local resources and can produce materials such as chairs, sofas, tables, cupboards out of them.”He mentioned that he invited artisans from India to train the women further.
Source: TKP
