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Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Bihan Didis receive 1.5 lakh tricolour order under Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan, boosting livelihoods in Chhattisgarh
In a vibrant blend of patriotism and empowerment, the women of Chhattisgarh's Bihan Yojana have taken on the task of stitching more than 1.5 lakh tricolour flags under the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan, as part of the nationwide Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. This initiative is not only helping ignite the spirit of nationalism but is also significantly strengthening the financial conditions of these rural women. At the Nari Shakti Garment Factory in Ganiyari, located in Bilaspur district, more than 100 women from 30 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) associated with Bihan Yojana are actively engaged in crafting the national flag. These women, known locally as "Bihan Didis," are pouring their skills and dedication into every piece, seeing it not merely as an assignment but as a sacred duty to the nation. "We are proud to be a part of this holy work. It connects us directly to the service of the country," said one of the women. "The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign has given us more than income - it has given us pride," said another group member. This large-scale production is part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, which encourages citizens to hoist the tricolour at homes, offices, and shops from August 13 to 15, to commemorate India's independence. The demand for the flags has surged across the country, and the Bihan Didis are rising to the occasion. Santoshi Sahe, PRP of the Nari Shakti Garment Factory Cluster, shared that multiple government and private institutions have placed bulk orders for the tricolour. "The Didis are working tirelessly to meet the growing demand. From cutting fabric to stitching, pressing, and packing, every step is being done by the women themselves. Not only are they earning daily wages, but their confidence and self-reliance are also growing with every flag they complete," Sahe said. The work has become a symbol of both patriotism and progress, offering women a sense of purpose beyond economic gain. The income generated through the campaign has helped many households and has given rural women a sense of pride in contributing to the national cause. District Panchayat CEO Sandeep Agarwal said that, like the previous year, the responsibility of flag production has been entrusted to these women once again. "The tricolours are being sold at affordable prices through stalls set up by the groups at the district panchayat premises. I appeal to all residents to hoist the tricolour at their homes and participate in this movement of national pride," Agarwal said. He emphasised that the campaign is not just about celebrating Independence Day, but also about empowering women and recognising their contribution to society.
Indian Express
05-08-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Handmade, homemade': Here come rakhis from SHG sisters of Himachal
It is a rakhi bond beyond boundaries. When Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the 'HimIra Rakshabandhan gift boxes' during the Performance Review Committee meeting of the Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, in New Delhi last month, Radhika Sharma and her team of Didis — Seema Sharma and Madhu Kanwar — sitting in Shimla were the happiest lot. 'Our rakhis were launched at the national level. Our joy knew no bounds,' says Radhika, 25, a young professional working with the HP State Rural Livelihood Mission under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). The news brought hope for Madhu, 31, a member of self-help group (SHG) working with NRLM. 'Ab hamari rakhi door tak jayegi (Now our rakhi will go to far-off places),' she says. Seema, 43, another SHG member, is equally elated: 'Ab hamari rakhi kai gharon mein hogi (Now our rakhi will be in many houses).' Their rakhis have already been shipped to many places like Faridkot (Punjab), Faridabad (Haryana), Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Gautam Buddha Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), Gurgaon (Haryana), Delhi and Chennai (Tamil Nadu) via an initiative of the Himachal Pradesh government, according to the official figures. 'We have provided an e-commerce platform for women working with self-help groups in rural areas. We are procuring and promoting their products from different districts. Now they have come up with beautiful designs of rakhi, the common thread being their creativity and sensitivity,' says Raghav Sharma, director, HP Rural Development Department. Rakhis come in boxes containing other goodies. There are three ranges of boxes: for brother, for sister, and for bhaiya and bhabhi. 'Rakhi, rakhi card and chocolate are common to all the boxes. The other contents, mainly Himachali items, vary from box to box. The price of the rakhi box ranges from Rs 428 to Rs 2,100. We are also offering up to 25 per cent discount,' says Dr Varun Mahajan, who is from KPMG India and working with the project management unit of the HP Rural Development Department. An MA in Fine Arts, Radhika, who has designed the rakhis, explains the USP of her products: Kullu patti, the fabric used for making Kullu shawls. 'We are making three kinds of rakhis: one has a swastika on it, the other has Bhai written on it, and the third one has a flower. All of them have the Kullu patti as the basis,' she says. Both from Beolia village near Shimla, both having a daughter each, and both having made 650 rakhis each, Madhu, who has studied up to Class 12, and Seema, who has done graduation in arts, are eagerly looking forward to boosting their brother-sister bond on August 9, the day of Rakhi festival. While Seema plans to go to her maternal place in Solan where she will catch up with her three brothers on the festival, Madhu has posted her rakhi for her brother in Kumarsain town of Shimla district. 'This year, our brothers will tie our rakhis — handmade, homemade and made straight from the heart,' say the two women. The Didis maintain they will get 'more blessings from more bhaiyas' this year. 'We have woven our sisterly feelings into the rakhis which will sure get brotherly love from far and wide,' says Seema. Radhika, who is from Mandi, has customised a rakhi gift box for her brother who lives in Dubai. 'My elder brother is in the IT sector. I hope he likes what I have designed,' she says. Plans are afoot to cross more boundaries. 'The rakhi campaign is part of our bigger plan to cover the entire country. We are already selling our products in more than 20 states. Every single penny that we earn under the HimIra brand goes to women only. We intend to increase their income and widen their reach,' says Shivam Pratap Singh, CEO, HP State Rural Livelihood Mission.
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Didi Ki Rasoi: How Bihar turned thousands of rural homemakers into independent food entrepreneurs
For Parvati Devi (30), cooking is more than a daily chore, it's a source of dignity, independence and social recognition. 'Earlier, I used to cook for my family at home. Now, I earn from my cooking,' she says. 'Senior police officers eat my food, some even recognise me. They call me Didi.' She is one of the 12 'Didis' working in a canteen at Patel Bhawan, the Bihar Police headquarters, in Patna. The canteen is part of the Didi Ki Rasoi initiative launched in 2018 by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar under Bihar's women empowerment programme, JEEViKA. Today, there are over 225 Didi Ki Rasoi kitchens operating across Bihar in government hospitals, schools, and public offices. More than 4,000 women, referred to as 'Didis', are employed in these kitchens and earn between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 a month. Most of the women were homemakers, and the initiative seeks to leverage their cooking skills and turn them into skilled entrepreneurs making steady incomes. As lunchtime approaches, the clanging of cutlery and the chattering of customers create a buzz in the canteen at the state police headquarters. Police personnel and other employees at the building gather around an L-shaped black granite counter, waiting for their turn. Behind the counter are a couple of women in brown aprons and white-brown salwar suits, their hair tucked neatly under hairnets. 'What's in today's menu, Didi?' asks a man. 'Veg thali, special thali with paneer, and non-veg. What would you like?' one of them replies briskly. Another officer chimes in, 'Didi, take my order too!' Nearby, one of the women call out, 'Who ordered a tea?' Ramesh Kumar, a police officer posted at the CID DIG office, says, 'I often take my meals here. The quality is better than the earlier canteen. It's quite affordable, and the food here is just like home.' The Didi Ki Rasoi at Patel Bhawan was inaugurated on October 3, 2023. The canteen's tall ceilings, glass windows, and walls adorned with pictures create an atmosphere more akin to a modern cafeteria than a traditional kitchen. Every working day, the Didis arrive by 8.30 am. Their day begins with chopping vegetables, prepping ingredients, and cleaning the premises and utensils. 'The breakfast can be poha, puri-sabzi, idli and paratha. Lunch includes vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and special thalis. In the evening, we serve snacks like pakora and Chinese dishes,' says Sandhya Kumari, the community coordinator overseeing this unit. According to her, the ever-expanding menu currently consists of 68 items — from restaurant staples to street food classics. 'We have South Indian items like dosa, Chinese food items, like noodles, and regional favourites like litti-chokha and ghughni-chura,' she says, adding, 'We also have home staples like curd, lassi, sooji ka halwa — all made in-house. Nothing we serve comes pre-packaged. We keep introducing new items based on popular demand.' The pricing, she says, is affordable, with 'a basic veg thali costing Rs 60, a paneer thali Rs 80, and the mutton thali, the priciest item, at Rs 150'. She says that each day, the canteen serves around 250 officers and staff members. 'Some higher officials also order food to their offices.' Parvati Devi had joined JEEViKA in 2014. Before that, the family was financially struggling, she says. 'We had to think 10 times before spending, even if there was a need,' she recalls. 'Now, I help my husband with expenses from my Rs 10,000 salary. Earlier, we couldn't afford proper education for our kids,' she says. Today, all three of her sons, aged 15, 12, and 10, are in school. 'I had never seen Rs 10,000 in my bank account before JEEViKA, but working at Didi Ki Rasoi, I can now capitalise my culinary knowledge,' she says. Apart from the financial gains, she says the work has also helped her personal growth. 'In my initial days, I couldn't even read messages on my phone. I had to ask others for help,' she says. 'Now, I can read English too. I have had no formal training, but I have learned so much just by meeting different types of people through JEEViKA.' Rahul Kumar, a hospitality manager associated with the initiative, says most of the women come from poor backgrounds. 'But working at Didi Ki Rasoi — sharing space with officers, professionals, ministers — it changes their worldview. They learn a lot and also ensure that their children get an education,' he says. Before joining Didi Ki Rasoi, the women undergo week-long residential training at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Hajipur, where they learn basic hospitality, hygiene, customer service, and workplace conduct. For women like Sindhu Devi, Munni Devi, and Rabika Khatoon — all sole breadwinners of their families — Didi Ki Rasoi offers not just a means of survival, but also social security. Sindhu (30) got married in 2016, but just a year later, her husband, who was a farmer, passed away. Subsequently, she faced difficulties in the family, although her parents initially provided her support. In 2023, she then joined the Didi Ki Rasoi at Patel Bhawan. 'Since I started working at the police headquarters, I don't have much trouble. Apart from earning a livelihood, it gives me a sense of security that I am working among police officers,' she says. Rabika (30) also faced similar struggles. After her husband, a carpenter, died in 2016, she started working as a domestic help to support her three children, who are now in classes 6, 2 and 1. 'At the time (of the husband's death), my youngest son was just 18 months old… My in-laws used to taunt me. But ever since I started working with Didi Ki Rasoi, they show me respect,' she says. Initially shy, Rabika says she is now more confident. 'I used to be afraid to talk to people. Now, I manage the service counter confidently.' Munni Devi (25) shoulders the responsibility of her family after her husband, Ganesh Paswan, lost a leg in a truck accident two years ago. He worked as a painter and his income dried up following the accident. 'This job gives me hope to support my husband and six-year-old daughter,' Munni says. 'Working here makes me feel like we have come a long way. I couldn't study, but now I dream of a better future for my daughter. She is currently in class 1 in a government school.' JEEVIKA CEO Himanshu Sharma called Didi Ki Rasoi 'a powerful example of transformation in action'. 'It's not just about providing food, it's about restoring dignity, creating opportunity, and showcasing women's leadership. Our Didis manage these kitchens with dedication and compassion, serving hospitals, government offices, and schools. They exemplify what grassroots leadership truly looks like,' Sharma says. Joint Secretary Rajesh Kumar, the senior in-charge of the Didi Ki Rasoi initiative, said there were big plans for the future. 'Didi Ki Rasoi stands as a powerful testament to the transformative potential of social empowerment among rural women… With the continued robust backing from the government and JEEViKA, Didi Ki Rasoi is poised for significant expansion, envisioning a future as a Rs 100-crore enterprise anchored in a strategic blend of cloud kitchens and premium cafes.'
