Tamil Nadu

They stand on their own feet

HANDS-ON: Women undergoing a training in imitation jewellery at Arimalam near Pudukottai

PUDUKOTTAI: Realising the need for making demand-oriented products a viable economic activity, women members of six self-help groups in and around Arimalam in the district have planned to take up the vocation of making fancy and imitation jewellery, making the best of the training they had undergone recently.

The 13-day training, imparted under the Micro Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, has given them a sense of confidence.

The SHGs, formed about three years ago, have immediately sought bank loans.

In all, 30 members, at the rate of five women from each group, were trained in making ‘paasi garland’; ‘governor garland’; studding of stones, etc..

“Initially, we had certain inhibitions, especially in wasting the raw materials; we were also not familiar with the jewellery designs.

But, having understood the simple techniques, we realised that making imitation jewellery is no magic,” said V. Kamatchi, a member of the Gangai SHG of Arimalam.

The trainees, at times, even outsmarted the resource-person from Madurai R. Thilagavathy in selection of the stones.

District Development Manager, NABARD, R. Anand, said that the trade, with its assured marketability and easy-to-learn technique, would attract the women members of the SHGs.

Innumerable designs could be evolved, depending upon the creativity of the individual member or group, he said.

Project Director of Rural Development Organisation, M. Kulandaivelu, who formed the SHGs, said that the women sold all the jewellery they made during the course of the training.

At least Rs. 1 lakh would be needed for each SHG for the purchase of the raw materials.

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