Exportable handicrafts from dry palm leaves, wheat straw
Italian NGO Rishilpi rehabilitates poor women in Satkhira
Abu Ahmed, Satkhira
Dry palm leaves and wheat straw are no more useless. Instead of being used for cooking, beautiful handicrafts are made from these, thanks to the innovative ideas by Italian NGO, Rishilpi, working in the district to empower women and ensure their rights. The laudable handicrafts project for destitute women has not only changed the life of ultra poor women but also earning valuable foreign currency for the country through export. The project in Binerpota areas in Sadar upazila creates employment for poor women and promotes traditional handicrafts of Bangladesh. After training provided by the NGO, over 1150 rural women, hyave now turned artisans. They make handicraft items from palm leaves and wheat straw, supplied by the NGO. Beautiful fruit basket, rectangular basket, cozy box, round mat, square box etc produced by the illiterate women now draw the attention of fashionable people at home and traders as well. The women draw beautiful pictures of Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted deer, monkey, indigenous birds and of traditional culture and scenic beauty of Bangladesh, which enhances country's image abroad. Their demand is increasing day by day at home and abroad. The display centre attracts people from different areas of the country and also foreign visitors. Talking to this correspondent recently, the project's supervisor Sagarika Das said their items are exported to USA, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands and other European countries. She said the women working in the project had to pass miserable life earlier. A women worker gets Tk 150 to 200 per day, depending on their work, she said. "My three sons are now going to school which was a dream to me before joining the project. My husband became disabled three years back. I am grateful to them (Rishilpi)", said handicraft artist Anima Rani Das, wife of Gokul Das of Chhanka village in the Sadar upazila. Lina Sarkar, wife of Daniel Sardar of Senergati village in Tala uazila said, "My son and two daughters are now going to school after I stated working here". Divorced house wife Sufia Khatun of Binerpota village said the money she gets from the project is the only means for survival of her two minor children. She also feels proud that her products are exported to foreign countries. On contact, Rishilpi Director Enso Falcone said, they first took up the project to train some destitute women. "We are very happy that about 2000 women including some disabled ones are now working here and maintaining their families properly", he added.
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Women making baskets and other handicraft items from dry palm leaves at the Rishilpi project in Satkhira. PHOTO: STAR |
