Handicrafts change fortune of Kurigram women
700 women of different
villages are making decorative
handicrafts that are also being exported abroad
BSS, Dhaka
Somebody is busy with producing felts, bags and mat while somebody is busy with making hand fans, pillow covers, show pieces and ornaments.
Such a picture is now seen in remote areas of northern Kurigram district, where the womenfolk have been making contributions to earning money for their families by doing these hand works at the leisure period.
Thanks to these works, they became self-reliant and are giving opinions on taking decisions for the important works of the family.
Concerned said most of the females who are involved in making these handicrafts are widows, husband-abandoned or divorcees.
These attractive goods made by the jute fiber are being produced by the ultra poor jobless women and the products are being exported abroad alongside sending to big cities of the country.
As a result, the countrys revenue income is rising in one hand, while these jobless and helpless women are becoming self-reliant in other hand.
A non-government women development organisation of the district named
Associate for Reviver Initiatives popularly known as Naree (women) is providing support to the rural women.
It was seen after visiting different areas in Kurigram that the women through their creative hands are producing eye-catching mate, kitchen mat, basket, bag, hand fan, cushion, show pieces and ornaments and other home decorating materials.
The production of the jute called as golden fiber is now not high like the past. Despite that various traditional goods of the country are being made through jute in remote villages of Ulipur in Kurigram.
As many as 700 women of different villages in Ulipur upazila are making
these decorative handicrafts which are also being exported abroad.
Farida Yasmin, an organizer of Naree, said the women are producing eye- catching jute goods, which drew attention to the delicate people within short
time. This initiative has made the ultra poor women self-reliant alongside bringing solvency to the families, she said.
Recalling her journey towards this initiative, Farida said at the beginning, 300 tants (weaving machines) were procured on behalf of the organisation.
The initiative created huge enthusiasm among the womenfolk. At the beginning, the women abandoned by their husbands and divorcees started work and later the housewives followed them, she said.
Farida said: We first organised the widows, divorcees, husband abandoned
and extreme poor women of the surrounding areas and then created a scope for work for them. The aim was to bring solvency to their families.
At one stage, she said, they opened a showroom for displaying the products
made by the women. Simultaneously, we took part in fairs in different district towns for the publicity which drew buyers attention, said the organiser.
The 20-year-old Shefali Aktar was busy with making jute goods in Naree.
Shefalis husband abandoned her when their boy child was born. The sons age is now six.
By making jute products at Narees factory, Shefali earns Taka 250 to Taka 300 daily. She also enrolled her son to a local school.
After being born in the house of poor parents, I grew up amid hardship.
In the meantime, I got married at the age of only 14 and my boy child was born. But my husband left me and my son he is still traceless, she narrated in a dismal voice.
Not only Shefali, more women including Shaheena Khatun, 35, Selina Aktar, 38, and Helena, 40, became self-reliant by making jute goods.
