Munj items, clay idols giving financial stability to rural women in Prayagraj

Prayagraj: As Yogi govt is making continuous efforts to empower women and make them self-reliant in the state, women self-help groups (SHGs) are being expanded in UP. By joining these SHGs, the financial condition of women and their families has improved substantially, including many rural women in Prayagraj who have now become role models of women empowerment in this area.
Many of these women are earning in lakhs by making eco-friendly idols and kulhars. The women have joined SHGs of their respective areas and are being given employment training. NRLM Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Kumar Singh in Prayagraj said that under the Rural Livelihood Mission in Prayagraj, so far 3,15,818 families in the district have been covered by women SHGs. Among them is Shiv Kumari of Rastipur Gram Panchayat of Prayagraj Pratappur block, who is associated with Radha Livelihood Group. Shiv Kumari started the work of making clay idols and kulhars in the name of Shiv Murti Kala Kendra. During Navratri, she receives bulk orders to make idols of Maa Durga.
Likewise, the life of Muslim women changed due to the manufacture of Munj products. CM Yogi Adityanath's ambitious scheme ‘One District One Product' has also increased self-reliance among the women of the Muslim community. Muslim women of Naini Maheva village of the district have the highest participation in making various products of Munj, the product selected in this scheme for Prayagraj district. These household women prepare puja asanas, puja baskets, and bags for carrying Ganga water from Munj with their handicraft skills, which are in great demand in the local market. After the construction of Tourist Craft Village here on Sept 13, 2024, it got a new market. So far, Munj products worth Rs 9 crores have been exported. Fatima, who makes Munj products, says that after the construction of Munj Shilp Gram, now they are getting more orders. Now they are also getting more money for their products. They received orders to make 500 puja baskets and bags during the Maha Kumbh. Nasreen from the same village says that now they get more orders online. They are getting so many orders that they are not able to fulfill the demand.