Bhilwara: Bhilwara owes its fame as ‘Vastranagari’ or ‘Textile City’ to the thousands of women who run its textile factories with both precision and pride. “We have no hesitation in operating machines because we are no less than men,” one of them, Bela Bai, said on the eve of International Women’s Day. “The same tasks that are assigned to men in the textile industry are given to us, and we always try to do better than men,” she said.Another worker, Rajkumari, said, “We work 8 hours a day and get Rs 20,000 to 25,000 per month as wages. We are no less than men. The Prime Minister’s vision is that women should move forward in all spheres, and we are realising this vision by becoming self-reliant.”Romani, who has studied up to BA, said she did not get a govt job even after studying hard. “Instead of sitting idle at home, it is necessary to work in this era of mehngai (high prices). That is why so many of us are working in the textile industry.”Bela Bai, who is from Madhya Pradesh, said she has been making yarn and fabric for the past 5 years in Bhilwara factories. “I want to give the message to other women that just as I am working hard, everyone should work hard and earn money. That will enable them to focus on their children’s education and success,” she said. Chhotu Singh Purawat, who oversees a textile factory, said separate premises were set up for women and nearly a thousand women now work and operate machines there throughout the day. Female security guards were deployed for the women workers and the company provided bus facilities for their commute, Purawat said. “I am like a father to them, and I look after every woman worker considering her as my daughter,” Purawat added.Prem Swaroop Garg, senior vice president of Bhilwara Textile Trade Federation, said 10,000 to 12,000 women work in the Bhilwara textile industry.
