300 women of 25 SHGs receive rakhi-making training

Central Chronicle News
Bhilai, Aug 21: SAIL-BSP is doing a number of activities to mark the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. Shivrajan, GM(CSR) shared that different programmes are also being organised by CSR department in tune with the celebrations.
In order to give a fillip to women empowerment, Rakhi-making training for 25 Self Help Groups (SHG) was organised by CSR department for local women, informed Rajni Rajak, Development Asst (CSR). Around 300 women are members of these SHG’s. Some of the women, who underwent rakhi-making training shared their views.
Mamta Prakash shares that we made tricolour rakhis saluting the sacrifices of our brave soldiers. We are entering into the 75th year of Independence and we made tricolour rakhis of different shapes and sizes to make this event memorable.
These tricolour rakhis are in high demand, she added. She sang the song ‘Ae vatan abad rahe tu..main jahan rahun wahan yaad rahe tu’ and dedicated it to Amrit Mahotsav.
Indu Gayakwad, resident of Umarpoti, swells with pride in stating that rakhis made by these SHGs have brought name and fame to Bhilai and Chhattisgarh in India and abroad.
Around 50,000 rakhis have been made, and have found customers in far flung places like France, Turkey, Istanbul etc.
Poonam Sahu from Ispat Nagar says that the rakhis made by them have been sent to the Prime Minister, Home Minister and different employees of SAIL.
Rukhmani Chaturvedi, Head of one of the SHGs states that Chhattisgarh is known as the Rice bowl of India. Therefore, we have taken Paddy from our fields and made Rakhis, which reiterates our pure and distinct culture.
Cowdung is considered pure in our cultures. Cowdung, paddy and jute have been used by us in making these rakhis, says Tokeshwari Gajpal. We have tried to leave an impression of Chhattisgarhi culture in our rakhis, she added.
The Rakhi-making training organised by CSR has helped these women acquire a new skill and at the same time helped them earn some money, says Kalpana Swami from Education department. Rajni Rajak, coordinator of the Rakhi making training and famed Lok Kala artist sang a song on Rakhi, wishing everyone present on the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav.