A handicraft exhibition organised by the Dhubri unit of Seva Bharati Purbanchal at Dhubri Lions Club. Picture by Eastern Projections
June 7: Decorative items crafted in Dhubri district are not only making their way into homes across the country, but also giving the women behind these exquisite pieces of art a chance to escape poverty.
Nearly 500 girls trained by Seva Bharati Purbanchal, an NGO, over the past four years are transforming handicrafts into a successful cottage industry in these parts. Another 108 girls were trained to make 10 kinds of items during a 10-day camp organised by the NGO at Dhubri Lions Club.
Seva Bharati Purbanchal also organises exhibitions of handicrafts churned out at such camps and works as a catalyst in marketing these items.
Mahua Mondal, who was in the first batch of trainees, is now an assistant instructor in the Dhubri unit of Seva Bharati Purbanchal and earns enough to help her family. Like her, many girls from Gouripur are doing good business.
“We supply our products to wholesalers, who market them in New Delhi, Calcutta, Allahabad and Nasik. Items produced in the Northeast are in demand because of their quality,” Mahua said.
Roma Mallik, another instructor, said most of the trained girls had been getting the opportunity to participate in exhibitions round the year. “The best part is that they have been getting bulk orders.” Master trainer Joy Kumar Sarma said participants were usually trained in fabric painting, hand stitching, pot- painting, glass painting, jute work, flower-making, cane and bamboo craft, pith and banana fibre craft
