Womens’ empowerment gets a boost im Maoist-dominated areas of Jharkhand

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Lohardaga (Jharkhand), oct. 31: Over 30 women in Karamtoli village, in the Naxal-affected Lohardaga district of Jharkhand, have formed a women’s self-help group and are engaged in making brooms, fishing nets, baskets and other household items.

These tribal women believe that they are now self -reliant and economically sound. They are now helping needy women members with money earned by the self-help group.

“After completing our household chores, we spend our spare time in doing work related to women’s development. We make products using ‘kasi’ (a kind of grass) through which we earn our livelihood. And through it we are trying to make an effort to take these groups for women’s development forward,” said Chanda Devi, a member of the self-help group.

Years of Maoist-led insurgency have affected the tribal people, especially women. But now with the help of these groups, the women have taken up the task of becoming self-reliant. With their efforts, the women are now bringing about social and economic change.

“The women who are practicing agriculture; fish rearing, poultry or such kind of traditional work, by making use of their skills they have not only created sources of extra income, but have also improved their economic condition, got economic independence and developed their ability of decision making in a positive direction, and the society has benefited from it,” said Rattan Kumar, Lohardaga’s Deputy Commissioner.

The initiative taken by women makes it clear that they have overcome the fear of Naxals. (ANI)