501 women earned Rs 1.95 crore from the production of yarn
Raipur, 02 August, 2023// The State Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel, has launched Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Parks to create new employment opportunities and encourage small industries in the state. In the Jashpur district, seven women’s self-help groups have learned how to extract thread from cocoons. These groups are located in Kunkuri, Farsabahar, Pathalgaon, and Kansabel development blocks, produce tussar threads and have generated total revenue of Rs 1.95 crore. The production of tussar thread has increased their income improving their standard of living. Previously, they relied only on farming, cultivating Badi and forest products for their livelihoods.
The women of the self-help group expressed their desire to learn how to do the threading work themselves after seeing Tussar machines in operation at the Government Kosa Seed Center. The department provided them with group training, and now these women continue to refine their skills and produce threads from cocoons. In the year 2022-23, 501 women from seven women self-help groups produced 33,55,279 kg reeling thread, 2315.273 kg ghicha thread, and 547.148 kg thread from the waste material of Tussar threading. The DMF and ITDP programs provided machines to these women to support their self-employment, and the district administration funded their training.
There are a few places in Chhattisgarh where the thread is extracted from the cocoon. Thread extraction from cocoons is a traditional means of earning, passed down from generation to generation. Self-help group women have learned the entire process of cocoon buying to thread making and selling. They first grade the cocoon, and then boil them to produce the yarn. After packing the thread, they sell it to traders and use the money they receive to purchase Kosa fruit for the silk department. They invest the remaining money in their household chores and are marching towards self-reliance. They have expressed gratitude towards state government for launching these initiatives.
