Pickles made by marginal women of Jharkhand to be sold on online shopping sites

About one lakh nine thousand women have now become entrepreneurs in Jharkhand thanks to the self-help groups (SHG) and the Rural Development Department of Jharkhand. Among these are members of Laxmi Shri Mahila Samiti who are now making a mark for themselves in the pickle business across the world.

Ranchi: It is said that large organizations with a turnover of thousands of crores were started in a small room or garage. Similarly, products made with love and affection in small rooms in the villages of Jharkhand will soon spread their fragrance in every corner of the world. This is the story of Shobha Didi of Kutiyatu village, Laxmi Shri Mahila Samiti and their pickles.

The story of Shobha Didi's struggle started in the year 2008 as soon as she arrived at her in-laws’ place where she was confronted with a mountain of troubles. The financial crisis dragged her to self-help groups (SHG) from where she got a loan from the bank and then, began the journey of making pickles of yam, mango, chilli and karil.

Shobha Didi of Laxmi Shri Mahila Samiti told ETV Bharat that initially there was no facility to procure the raw products. There was no means of transportation to use for buying goods and in 2008 auto-rickshaws were also not easily available. They had to take a lift from motorcycle riders and truck drivers to reach markets.

The products made by the SHG members have got recognition under the brand name Palash

As soon as Shobha didi started earning a little, she first built a house. The room although small is no less than a factory. The members of SHG gather here and pickles are made after a lot of hard work and then stored in drums and then filled in boxes. While someone pastes the print the label, someone else seals the box. Despite the struggle of 12 years, they do not have a shop and are now yearning for international recognition.

They told ETV Bharat, “We just need a shop to grow business. We buy goods, do the packing, make everything ourselves. We manage to do everything ourselves. We just don’t have a shop.”

Apart from getting the recognition for their skills, the lives of women associated with self-help groups have also been transformed.

Their children have started going to school and their standard of living is also improving. Till not so long ago, these women used to sell the Hadiya (an alcoholic beverage) in the city, town and village markets. Now their handmade products reach every corner of the world.

Sunita Didi, a member of Laxmi Shri Mahila Samiti said “I have four sons and daughters. All go to school. I am educating them so that they can progress in life after acquiring knowledge.”

JSLPS, a unit of the Rural Development Department of Jharkhand is now also helping them fulfil their dreams. Thanks to this committee, the products made by the members have got recognition under the brand name Palash.

At present, display counters have been installed in all government offices including the secretariat. Now, even the big bureaucrats are enjoying the products made by these women.

Under Palash, more than 37 products are sold including moringa tea i.e. Drumsticks leaf tea, goat milk in tetra pack, several kinds of honey, brown rice, herbal soap, tamarind cake, jamun (blackberry) vinegar, marua flour and pickles. Soon, these products will reach every corner of the world through Flipkart, Amazon and Reliance Mart.

By the year 2023-24, a turnover of one thousand crores is estimated.

Officer of JSLPS Nitish Kumar Sinha told ETV Bharat that very soon, products made by women from Sakhi Mandal are going to be available on online platforms like Flipkart and Amazon, under the brand name ‘Palash’. In addition, their products will soon be seen in Reliance retail stores too.

Like Shobha Didi, about one lakh nine thousand women have now become entrepreneurs in Jharkhand. It is said that a society is made strong when women are strengthened. The foundation for this has been laid in Jharkhand, now the roots need to be strengthened.