In Chhattisgarh state, rural industry made women from rural areas a means of living.

Handloom association is providing regular employment to 7000 women belonging to women self-help groups through uniform tailoring. Weaver women associated with self-help groups have also turned the corona crisis and the odd situation of lockdown into an opportunity to profit from their skills and freshness. Considering the demand of masks in the market for the prevention of corona infection, 7000 weaver women of the group made 3 lakh 80 thousand masks of good quality cotton cloth. The masks prepared by women were supplied to departments and institutions. In a period of two months, weaver women did business of about 76 lakhs. Weaver women have played their exemplary participation in the battle of Corona by offering a check of Rs. 1 lakh 45 thousand 303 of their dividend amount to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and 1500 nos masks.

Women self-help committees and weavers’ committees engaged in weaving garments through handlooms in the state have done more than Rs 7 crore 65 lakhs during the lockdown period. The handloom association is providing employment to 37 thousand weaver families of the state through 12 thousand 600 handlooms.

It is proposed to set up 661 units in rural areas under the family oriented program through Khadi and Village Industries Board. Through these, a grant of Rs 6 crore 94 lakh 83 thousand will be distributed and employment will be provided to 3965 people. Apart from this, Khadi clothing masks and herbal soaps are being manufactured by the Khadigram Board through a women self-help group. During the lockdown period 80 thousand masks have been prepared by the women of the group and supplied to various departments.

During this corona period, employment generation is being done under MNREGA in 695 hectare area through nursery and plantation work in Kosa training centers of different districts. This has created employment of 2.89 lakh man-days by the silk division. The target is to distribute a total of 2500 pieces of machines at a cost of Rs. 3 crore 5 lakh to women beneficiaries engaged in silk threading work. As many as 1461 women of 91 self-help groups will be provided with additional income from insect rearing in 67 silk centers of the state. The handicrafts board of the village industries department is currently providing training and tool kits to 26 thousand artisans at their residence. Handicrafts Development Board itself is marketing the materials manufactured by the craftsmen, so that the craftsmen do not have to wander for marketing. Two thousand pieces of banku tree-guard from 37 bamboo artisans families have been provided employment under the Job Work Collection Scheme by the Handicrafts Development Board. In this episode, marketing has been arranged by the Matikala Board by preparing matka, kalsi, cup, plate, etc. from 22 thousand craftsmen in their homes. The Matikala Board is also supplying electronic chalk to the craftsmen, so that their income will increase. There is a plan to manufacture glass of lassi, bowl of sweets etc. from the craftsmen and supply them to the hotels.