Prayagraj: As many as 300 women associated with self-help groups in the rural pockets of Sangam city have prepared more than one lakh eco-friendly rakhis made of cotton threads ahead of Rakshabandhan. These rakhis will be sold in prominent markets of Prayagraj as well as at makeshift stalls that will come up in the city and adjoining districts ahead of the festival.The self-help groups formed by the state government to empower women in UP have provided a new source of income for homemakers. In sangam city, women associated with the District Urban Development Agency (DUDA) have crafted over one lakh rakhis for the occasion.Poonam Singh of the ‘Bhavini’ self-help group, affiliated with DUDA, says that all the women in her group are busy preparing rakhis for the upcoming festival. These rakhis are eco-friendly and no chemicals or materials harmful to the skin have been used. To give them an indigenous touch, they are made from cotton thread and colored using dyes derived from flowers and leaves. Notably, all the women in the group crafting these rakhis are differently-abled.Tanu Saroj from Kaudihar block is associated with the ‘Grihini’ self-help group. This SHG have been making cotton rakhis daily since Independence Day, having received orders from local markets.In Prayagraj, women in both rural and urban areas are becoming self-reliant by joining self-help groups. Pratibha Srivastava, the DUDA Project Officer for the district, informed that there are currently 298 women self-help groups in the city, comprising over 3,000 women. By engaging in self-employment, they have scripted a new success story of self-reliance. In addition to training, DUDA has provided these women—who are crafting rakhis for Rakshabandhan—with canopy facilities to help them sell their products.Beyond members of women’s self-help groups, other women are also utilizing their skills to craft rakhis. These women had previously made over 3.8 lakh Tirangas (national flags) for Independence Day and paid Rs 20 per flag, they earned Rs 80 lakh through their hard work on that occasion. Now, the focus has shifted to Rakshabandhan. There is significant demand for rakhis from the district’s public representatives, and orders have also been received from various social organizations.
