Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 16 Oct: This Diwali, the festival of lights symbolising hope and renewal, is being brightened further by the enterprising spirit of women from the disaster-affected area of Sahastradhara in Dehradun. Although the recent calamity has inflicted deep scars on the region, the welfare schemes of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami have strengthened the self-reliance of rural women, who are now scripting a story of resilience and empowerment.
In line with the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign, women from the Self-Help Group (SHG) of Gram Panchayat Dhanuala under Nyay Panchayat Sarona in Raipur Block of the district are preparing decorative and attractive candles that are set to illuminate homes across the capital this festive season. These rural women, who only weeks ago were grappling with the aftermath of disaster, are now bringing light to their own community and to others, promoting indigenous products while boycotting foreign goods, including those from China.
The Durga and Lakshmi SHGs have successfully introduced a wide range of handmade candles into the market at fair prices, improving their financial stability and contributing to local economic growth. Under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), ten women from these groups received training in candle-making and subsequently began producing diyas and candles in preparation for Diwali, with assistance and resources provided through the mission.
Kausalya Negi, President of the Durga SHG, shared that the group has already prepared one thousand packets of candles, each containing six to eight pieces. These are being sold both through retail outlets in the city and via home delivery, at prices ranging from Rs 15 to Rs 35 per candle, with the production cost between Rs 10 and Rs 20. She further shared that the group was provided with a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of Rs 1.5 lakh at an annual interest rate of 7 per cent and a Community Investment Fund (CIF) of Rs 75,000 at 1 per cent interest under the NRLM. In addition, a Revolving Fund of Rs 10,000 was also extended to the group to aid their business operations.
Besides practical training, these women were also imparted knowledge on self-employment, entrepreneurship, time management, goal setting, customer handling, market management, personality development, and digital banking. These initiatives have equipped them to sustain their enterprises and expand their reach beyond their immediate locality.
The district level officials have claimed that ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign launched by CM Dhami is enabling rural women to become self-reliant and achieve the vision of becoming ‘Lakhpati Didis’ — women earning in lakhs annually. The Durga and Lakshmi SHGs have exemplified this success by earning over Rs 1.5 lakhs already through the sale of their decorative candles. They have expressed gratitude for the government’s welfare schemes, which have empowered them to stand on their own feet after the devastation caused by the recent disaster.
Chief Development Officer (CDO) Abhinav Shah stated that several SHGs in the district are producing decorative items for the Diwali festival. He added that the earthen diyas and designer candles crafted by the Durga SHG of Raipur Block are commanding good prices in the market and are selling briskly at various stalls across the city, reflecting both the public appreciation and the growing strength of the women-led local enterprise movement in Uttarakhand.
