Jhumpura: Terracotta craft has helped the women of Mahadevpur under this block in tribal-dominated Keonjhar district attain economic self sufficiency, a report said.
Their success story has set an example for other women in rural Orissa, seeking income generating activities.
According to reports, the women have formed four self help groups. They have been making a variety of household items and decorative pieces.
Jhumpura block project manager (Orissa Livelihood Mission) Madhusmita Das arranged training for the women at the village.
About 45 women received training from May 20 to June 3, 2016, where they quickly picked up the ropes of the trade.
“We are making a variety of products like images of animals, birds, deities and flower bases,” some SHG members said.
“It starts with collection of a particular kind of earth which is then soaked in water. We have now acquired expertise in making various shapes out of chunks of mud,” said Parbati Behera, Damayanti Behera and Golap Behera of Gayatri SHG.
Carving out time from agriculture, members of Trahiachyuta SHG – Sasmita Behera and Raimani Behera – have been engaging themselves in terracotta work.
They observed, “In whatever work you do, you should have interest in them. Sincerity and hard work will certainly bring success. But what we need now is a good marketing facility for our products. If good marketing facilities are made available, terracotta will emerge a cottage industry here.”
The SHG members have met the BDO Mamata Nayak seeking provision of warehouse for their products. The BPM said steps are being taken to make marketing facilities while the BDO said warehouse will be built for terracotta artisans. PNN
