Bhojpur women turn skills into income after local training

BHOJPUR: Women in Bhojpur district who were previously confined to household chores and family responsibilities are now earning an income through their own skills.

Skill-based training programmes conducted at the rural municipality and ward level, including tailoring, Dhaka weaving, off-season vegetable farming, making bamboo stools (mudha), pickle making and earthworm fertiliser production, have provided women with opportunities to become self-employed and entrepreneurial.

Vice chairperson of Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality, Ramadevi Rai, said various skill-based training programmes are being provided under the "women-targeted programme" to make women self-reliant and commercially oriented. She said women have joined entrepreneurship after being provided with skills such as Dhaka weaving, tailoring, pickle making, off-season vegetable farming, goat farming and pig farming.

Vice chairperson Rai said the rural municipality is providing necessary encouragement and support to women who wish to engage in business after acquiring skills. According to her, 27 women were trained in pickle making in the last fiscal year 2024/25 to encourage them to utilise locally available raw materials, promoting both commercial activity and entrepreneurship.

Samjhana Rai of Nagi in Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality‑4 said that after taking the same training, she started producing pickles in her own village. She said the skill has made it easier to earn a living. "After learning the skill, I started making pickles at home," she said. "This has made it easier for me to become self-reliant. I have been teaching the skills I learned to others and inspiring them."

Women from the Dalit community who were interested in acquiring skills were identified and provided with training in making bamboo stools, after which these women became self-employed. In Pauwadungma Rural Municipality, 19 Ama Samuha (women's group) have started producing and selling earthworm fertiliser.

Pauwadungma Rural Municipality's vice chairperson, Jyotsana Rai, said they have formed a women development board under the "vice chairperson's self‑reliance programme" and have started various activities to connect women with entrepreneurship.

Women from Khoksik in Ramprasadrai Rural Municipality‑8 have also joined entrepreneurship after skill-based training. Local Chandrakala Rai is now actively involved in the tailoring business. "Receiving skill-based training in the ward made it easier for housewives like us," she said. "Now this business helps cover household expenses and contributes to self-reliance."

Chandrakala said the tailoring training has increased her self-confidence in addition to making her self-employed. "It was difficult for women like us to go to other places for training," she said. "We are happy to get training and start a business in our own village."

Locals said the continuous efforts of the local governments and the active participation of women are now setting a new example of self-reliance and entrepreneurship in the villages of Bhojpur.

By RSS