.The India International Field Fair (IITF) 2024 has come to be a dynamic festivity of grassroots entrepreneurship, with the ‘Saras Ajeevika Mela’ in Halls 9 as well as 10 offering a platform for girls craftsmans to feature their hand-made crafts. Organised to ensure self-help teams (SHGs) created under the Lakhpati Didi program, the mela has become a lighthouse of grassroots empowerment and also entrepreneurial success stories.From the detailed ‘Chamba Rumals’ of Himachal Pradesh to the spectacular pashmina creations of Ladakh, as well as woolen garments from Punjab, each stall narrates a story of resilience as well as heritage. These women, most of whom were housewives without private revenue, have now transformed in to effective business people assisting their family members and also maintaining heritage crafts.Right at the entryway of the pavilion, vibrant display screens of hand-crafted items catch the eye.
Apparel, jewellery, predicaments, containers, domestic fruit and vegetables, and also even art pieces decorate the stalls. These aren’t simply products– they are actually the personification of many hrs of labour, heritage, as well as determination.Anita from Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba area has brought a selection of beautiful hand-embroidered Chamba Rumals, an art form going back to the royal era. “This is my hereditary job.
My granny and also mama performed it, and I am continuing their heritage,” she discussed. Anita’s SHG, which started in 2019, now has 25 ladies generating these intricate items. “Even a little blossom style takes 2 times to end up due to the detailed work,” she explained.Meanwhile, Surender Kaur from Punjab proudly showed woollen garments for kids, ladies, and also males.
Standing For Navikiran SHG from a community in Patiala, Kaur described that her team works relentlessly in the course of summer season to prep things for winter purchases. “Our team have actually become part of this mela for many years, and each time our experts come here, the feedback encourages us to function more challenging. My group has grown over time, and now girls in our community make a stable profit,” she mentioned.” After losing my spouse, this job became my lifeline.
At first, I paid attention to khaddi wool serapes, yet because of wellness problems, I switched over to weaving coats, hats, and socks,” she added.Rigzen Yangdol, coming from Ladakh’s Fiang village, embodies an SHG that started along with seven women in 2016 and also now boasts 160 members. The team specializes in spinning as well as weaving pashmina products by hand. “Our component is actually 100% pashmina, as well as our company just recently got a GI tag for our job.
In the beginning, purchases were slow-moving since folks discovered pashmina pricey, today our items are actually shipped to nations like Canada and France,” Yangdol shared.The SHG owes its development to the Lakhpati Didi system, under which girls were taught for three months and given with basic materials. “When our team began, we were totally based on our spouses. Currently, we are actually getting individually and also creating international shipments, in some cases with the help of our kids who know English,” she claimed with a smile.Chandra Devi from Mandi area in Himachal Pradesh is actually an additional radiating example of females climbing all together.
Her SHG, which began in 2019, is composed of seven women who create shawls, containers, hot kurtis, and various other woolen items. “It takes our company 3-4 months to complete a set of products, which our team cost fairs as well as exhibits,” she explained.Chandra’s adventure started with a singular handloom, impressive other women in her neighborhood to join her. “This work possesses not only delivered our company along with profit yet likewise a feeling of reason,” she said.The Saras Ajeevika Mela isn’t only a market it’s a system where ladies can easily showcase their abilities, get in touch with shoppers, as well as motivate others.
A lot of craftsmans debt the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) for assisting them reach this stage. “Without this help, we wouldn’t possess had the self-confidence or information to participate in such celebrations,” stated Yangdol.