Coserving Nature and livelihood- Story From Charmar

Charmar a tribal village situated 15 KM far from Gharghoda Block headquarters; reflects its beauty within its name Charmar, which derives from a jumbled word “Char” i.e. a tree having tiny fruit like berry & “Mar” means having a lot of. The village is surrounded by forest & non forest trees. Cent percent of the villagers are belong to tribal community and dependent upon agriculture, daily wages & forest based products for livelihood. Women of the village are daily wage laborers.

A Self Help Group namely Indira SHG was constituted under SHPI-II programme by one Hasit Gupta, activist of Janmitram Kalyan Samiti. The SHG is headed by President Nammukhi, Secretary Damayanti and included by active members like Champa, Malika, Udiya.

After came into being, Indira SHG was looking for a suitable business to run. In the mean time they came to know about Lac cultivation and its benefits from neighboring SHGs of village. Later on the SHG obtained all information related to Lac and availed required equipments & raw material like Lac breeding seeds (pest), insecticides from RISA (Raigarh Integrated Shelach Association). Accordingly the process of Lac cultivation was started. And in only 2 years the SHG earned around 60-70 thousand rupees by selling LAC. As a team effort, profit goes to the account of SHG. In return the members are taking individual loan and initiating their own business.
Now Indira SHG is in close coordination of RISA for processing raw Lac to Chauri and then sell it in market. In this connection RISA is purchasing raw Lac from them directly.

Among other members of Indira SHG Champa, Nammukhi are doing vegetable business, Malika sells Murra (By Product of rice), Udiya has a cycle repairing shop. Other members are associated with cultivation.

In pleasure Damayanti differentiates days before and after formation of SHG with the benefits they are getting in terms of loan whereas they were lending money with high interest from landlords. Women who were shying before to go outside now used to visit Banks, Govt. /Non Govt. offices for several purposes. This unity has brought a lot of strength in them to step outside and get aware of many schemes. You can often see them posing for women’s right. The members are promoting their own business too that stabilized their financial strength individually. Apart from above they talk of social reformation in village and trying to eliminate superstition, blind believes etc with the help of Mitanin. They are more cautious about health & education that reflects from their looks.



By adopting new technologies, their production level has been increased compared to traditional method which was reducing the life span of hosting tree, either resulting less profit or even zero. This condition led the farmer to stop the business. But it’s a different scenario now, after taking training on scientific method, the villagers are applying new techniques like rowing & removing Lac stick (insect) from the hosting tree, spraying insecticides, pruning & harvesting in proper & timely manner. This is giving them good profit.

Its for Pinkey

Ahalya, a pious woman gets up before sun rise and performs her daily routines supplemented by worshiping god & goddesses. She is very honest to her work that keeps her energetic and enthusiastic to do more. This nature led her to take training on Lac Handicraft while in leisure.

Uttarabali a friend of Ahalaya let her know about Lac Handicraft Training to be undertaken in her village Chhotegumda. She collected all information in relation to join the training Programme. Then she enrolled her name and took training. Ahalya completed the course and topped among all trainees for her honesty and sincerity during training.



4 to 5 thousand rupees income in a month surprises the family members of Ahalya. Now they encouraged Ahalya for it. Ahalya is so happy to carry out this small industry and growing day by day. Her daughter Pinki is a school going girl and Ahalya possesses a lot dream for her.

New horizons for Dushila

It was not less than a dream for Dushila’s to out step home and visit Rajasthan which is 1600km far from her small village Badegumda. Dushila availed this opportunity under Lac Handicraft Programme.

Dushila is a wise woman although she is less educated. Dropped school in early childhood days Dushila got marry to a marginal farmer Mr Lekhram Gupta of Badegumda village. Lekkharam’s 8 acres land has been lying uncultivated and sub-judies under court since many years. This suffering was causing woe and agony in the conjugal life of Dushila. By cultivating borrowing land the couple managed to live.
Dushila never sits idle and always tried to earn something. This willingness led her trained in Lac Handicraft products. She got expertise in making exclusive lac items like Dulhan, Rani Sets since she taken training on LAC Handicraft held at village Chhotegumda. In this regard, all Tools & Raw Materials is provided by the Training Organizer (RISA) an unit of Janmitram Kalyan Samiti, Raigarh.

At present Dushila is earning upto 3 to 4 thousand rupees per month by sitting at home. She has either option to sell these products directly in the Market or to RISA (Raigarh Integrated Shellac Association). As a result, now she is contributing less and more in financial requirements. Recently she has bought a golden ring amounting Rs.7000/- for her daughter’s and wishes more for her marriage.

Small Hands, Big Dreams

Kumari Mahima & Chandrama are sisters, living in a family of 10 members, with their parents, grandparents and other siblings. The earning from 1 ½ acres of land is hand to mouth for the family. This situation led both sisters dropped school. Where basic needs were outreached, desires & wishes had no room. Living an underestimated life both sisters were concealing their desires like Dresses, Cosmetics, Jewelry etc.

In the mean time, friends of Mahima & Chandrama intimated them about Lac Handicraft Training in their own village Chhotegumda. In curiosity they expressed their eagerness for taking training. Henceforth both sisters enrolled their name and completed the course with much pump & gaiety.

Products like Paper weights, Mobile Pen Stand, Plates, decorative items & other stationary goods proved them exceptional among other trainees. Except making traditional products like Bengals they brought new dimension in Lac products. Introduced new range of variety by putting their own intellectual. Good finishing in the products made them unique and popular.

Nowadays they give 5 to 6 hours for making Lac items being at home and earned up to Rs.4000/- to Rs.5000/- per month. Contributing less and more in family expenses. Apart from giving time to it they extend hands in domestic works. No more financial constraint is there to fullfill their desires now. They often go to different occasions, Melas(festivals), Markets and visit cloth shops, cosmetic shops to buy dresses, jewelry, cosmetics like fairness creams, talcum powders, hair bands, clips and many more.

Success stories from Lac handicraft

In India, West Bengal and Rajasthan is hub of lac handicrafts. Thousands of craftsman works in remote villages, most of them are traditionally linked with business. Many artisans have learnt these skills from their parents and forefathers.
In Chhattisgarh very few people are associated with this business; most of them having ancestral roots form West Bengal. They chiefly prepare ladies ornaments and sell it to local shops and wholesalers. Though the profit eared is not enormous, but is adequate for sustenance. Lack of fashion consciousness, new designs, packaging and business promotion skills are bottleneck that curb the opportunities of business and development of these people.
JanMitram is engaged in livelihood enhancement of these artisans. In year 2010, it conducted a skill development programme on lac handicrafts. The three month long training Started in September 2010 and completed on November. Thirty women of Village chotte Gumda and Bade Gumda participated in this programme.
This training successfully ignited new ideas, concepts and introduced new designs and products. Organization assisted successful trainees with marketing and financial linkages. Periodical visit of master trainer in village was ensured to constantly improve the quality and quantity of production.
Organization has also tried for convergence of some other scheme for benefit of artisans. All these trainees were provided with free tool kit from DRDA Raigarh. Many of the women went on exposure visit to Jaipur to survey market possibilities, under BRGF scheme.
For ensuring market linkage, organization has put people who provide raw material at doorstep. Also, orders are conveyed and products are collected on regular basis. Organization has empanelled many shopkeepers and traders all across CG and some form Rajasthan that ensure regular demand of lac articles.
The programme has successfully strengthened livelihood options, as this trade can be done round the year. Also women can earn while using leisure time, witout hampering her household or other works . Some successful cases are given hereunder.

1. SMT. KUSUM KURRE

Kusum Kurre was a common household woman, married to an alcoholic person. She is mother of five children. Despite this huge responsibility, Physical & Mental torture of her husband put her family in a lot of woe and agony. Few year back, she finally decided to take divorce. The Court judgment went in her favour and marrigr broke. she leter came back to her Parent’s village Chhotegumda along with her children. But there was no breadwinners in the family . her father was ailing and she never wanted to be dependent on her parents .

In speculations to overcome the pitiful life, a close neighbour of her namely Vimla Gupta who was already undergone training on Lac Handicraft, told details about it. Though it’s a new concept for Kusum but she decided to undergo training after heard the story of Vimla. Her parents looked after her children while she was going for training and this timely help managed her to complete the training programme.

After completion of training Kusum got all necessary tools and raw materials and started making artifacts. She makes Bengal, Buckle, jewelry items. A dimension was supplemented her trade when she underwent an intervention programme to Rajasthan to promote Lac business, orgnised by janmitram. Her expertise and skill in Lac Handicraft is recognized and commended at state festival of Chhatishgarh, as well as by NABARD, Raipur, where she was set up a stall for 9 days. She usually ern 3000-4000 Rs a month.

Now Kusum is not only known as a successful Lac Craftswomen but also an Anganwadi worker in her village. Both are going hand in hand effectively. Glimpses of success reflect from the face of Kusum, who is leading a happy life with her children.

2. VIMLA GUPTA
Vimla Belongs to a small village Chhote gumda . She committed a mistake in young age that hunted many of her coming years. She gave birth to an adulterine child, The man she had relationship later refused to marry thus, she faced social exclusion. People misbehaved her, and she lived in misery. Uttra-Bali Gupta, A Local worker of JanMitram asked her to join training of Lac Handicraft which was soon to be started. She enrolled and attended training. The training was organized at the Anganwadi Centre of village Bade-Gumda, where she got trained under the guidance of skilled trainer.

She was a fast learner. In this training month, she learnt making Bengal, Jewelry etc. after training she started a small production unit in her. She was then linked with RISA (Raigarh integrated shellac association) which is a section 25 company, formed under guidance of janmitram and working for benefit of NTFP collectors and lac growers in the district. RISA not only makes availability of the required raw material but also purchase these items from the makers and sell it in many places. She earns 2500-3000 Per month and earning are increasing steadily which her flourishing skill.

Now Vimla is not only known as a potential Lac craftsman but also live with dignity and pride in her village. This income has made her able to send her son to a good school . with newfound courage she is willing to fight against the injustice happen to her. She has appealed before the court of law to prove her innocence.

3. SMT. LALITA DANSENA

Resident of village Badegumda Smt Lalita Dansena has strong determination to stand independently and make her family financially well, induced Lalita for taking training on Lac Handicraft.

Due to lack of employability in village and traditional constraints in family, Lalita was unable to engage herself in available works like wage laborer etc. The growing children and fewer income of family supplementing her worry for which day to day life became more difficult to live in. when heard of handicraft training, she discussed it with her sister-in-law, who motivated her. With the consent of their family both of them decided to undergo training.

The Training helped her to generate income and enabled her to contribute in family expenses. She Make lac handicrafts at home sell them either to RISA or directly in market. Recently Lalita assisted her family with 15 thousand rupees, for getting agriculture inputs for farming.

Nowadays Lalita is Happy with this small business and stand tall with a determination to bring prosperity in her family. She thanks all those people who assisted her including her sister-in-law who encouraged to take-up this business.


4. SMT. PARAMESWARI DANSENA

Parmeswari is a born-artist, skilled in many household trades like sewing; embroidery & stitching etc have had an interest in learning new things. She was eager to have hands on training when she came to know that Training on Lac Handicraft.

She got involved whole heartedly in training and quickly specialized in bangles and jewelries. Having 6 members in family, she has a quite busy day-schedule; however she wakes up at 5 am each morning to make the quota of handicrafts of that day. She now earn 1500-2000 PM and contributes to her family’s income.

She never feels tired of telling her story, anybody who cares to listen. This work not only led her to prosperous life but also provided strength to have a say in family decisions. Recently she acquired new TV and DVD for her family out of this small business. “This is my first purchases of my own money” – She grins.


PURNAMASI GUPTA

In the ripe age of 58, Purnamasi Gupta has witnessed many ups and downs of life. Living in a small thatched house at Badegumda, Pusnmasi tells her story. Coming from a landlord family, she had 5 siblings. One was the time that he had over 100 acres of land and a prosperous farmer. Her father lost all ancestral property in gambling that compelling them migrates at Raigarh. There, they started making Papad, stitching clothes for livelihood.

Few years back, His father deceased, living a small that house at bade gumda as last refuge to purnmasi. She comes back to Badegumda after 24 year. Never married in her life, Purnmasi is a courageous woman. She stands still and never loses her heart although being in misery. In the mean time one brother died and another left home and missing now. Being the eldest among all, Purnamasi has to upkeep all his siblings and their children. Her nephew is apple of her eye and she wants him to have good education and bring back good days again.

Oldest among other trainees, Purnamasi Gupta made herself the cause of inspiration for showing enthusiasm and honesty at training class. Furthermore she pursued many families to allow their women to take training on Lac Handicraft. Then and there she never looks back. She visited many places to attend Lac related programme and sale camps. She was the one who interacted with Smt. Golma Devi, Hon’ble Minister of Art & Craft, Rajasthan. Now she makes around 3 to 4 sets of Bengal in a day and earns upto Five to six thousand in a month.

Memorizing the painful past, Purnamasi gets emotional by expressing her pleasure for being a Lac beneficiary. Lac Handicraft business gave her a meaning in life to stand again. She could have been lessen her difficulties if she got the Lac Handicraft Training much before, she says.

KUMARI RUKMINI MANPAHRE

Kumari Rukmini Manpahre, an only child of her parents, lives in village Chhotegumda. Poor financial condition of the family made her experiencing in engaging herself in daily wage labour at Brick Factory. Lessons were learnt from past experience and she decided to develop her own business instead of doing daily wage at others. The journey of becoming a Lac Handicraftswoman from a daily wage labour at Brick Factory influenced Rukmini’s life.

Rukmini’s father is one among other 7 children of her grandfather who left only 4 acres of land behind. After equal distribution nobody has chance to live life of a farmers. Rukmini’s famely had no option other than daily wage at Brick Bhattha along with her parents. Workplace offerd an abusive surrounding,

In the meantime, Janmitram was about to organise training programme on Lac Handicraft . Rukmini’s friend Uttarabali informed her regarding the benefits of taking training on this trade. Thereafter a participatory meeting of potential trainees was conducted at the Anganwadi centre, where Rukmini get aware about the concept of Lac Training and decided to undergo training. She expresses interest to her parents who seems to be reluctant first but Rukmini’s wish prevailed. She joined training programme and completed the course. Soon after, she started making decorative plates, bengals, mobile stand, jewelry and stationary goods.

Recently she made a profit of ten thousand rupees from State exhibition festival, Raigharh, where she put a stall on Lac products. The products of Rukmini were commended by the District Collector at the Festival.

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