“Bihan” women enter the confectionery business.
Kondagaon, 26 July 2020. ‘For this reason, women self-help groups associated with the National Livelihood Mission (Bihan) have proved themselves by reaching the new areas of self-employment and livelihood for the last several years. These women have sought such a path of self-sufficiency where their presence could not be imagined earlier. Among them, there are many work areas like animal husbandry, donpati and nutritious food manufacturing, brick business, canteen operation, fencing wire construction. In this sequence, the district administration is now trying to provide a new livelihood resource to these women in the form of sweet business. ‘
As the climate of the district is consistent with coconut cultivation, there is abundance of coconut at the local level as well. Apart from this, the local farmers have been continuously encouraged to grow coconut by the Coconut Development Board at Copabeda. In view of this, in Kondagaon, the task of making health enhancing and delicious sweets made from coconut will now be given to self help groups. At present, 30 women of village Badekanera and Bolbola are being trained by Coconut Board trained master trainers Ms. Sandhya Dewangan and Rani Dewangan to make a group of women of Bihan to make coconut barfi, laddus and cakes. Apart from this, after the manufacture of these sweets, an action plan has also been prepared to provide market for their sale. Women are being trained not only in the preparation of sweets but also in the aspects of packaging and marketing. During this, the trainee women expressed their views and said that the task of making coconut sweets in a very simple way has been learned here and they are all very excited to learn this new work. And wishes to adopt it as a business as well. It is to be known that the women of Bihan group are being trained not only for dessert but also for making pickles, chips, chocolate. In this regard, the collector said that coconut is beneficial for health. And the most important thing is that sweets made from coconut have no possibility of adulteration. Therefore, people of the district will also get the option of healthier sweets by avoiding adulterated sweets. Apart from this, the income of the women involved in this business will increase as well as many people will also get employment. Apart from this, the District Mission Manager of Bihan Vinay Singh said that the district administration is working on a grand scheme to promote coconut farming in the district. In such a situation, in order to provide new employment opportunities to the women of Bihan group from the coconut produced, they are being trained to make different coconut products from now. Making these available materials available for sale after manufacture is also included in this scheme.
Overall, this attempt to find employment in sweet flavors is certainly commendable. And cooking delicious food is the birthright of every woman. And it is expected that women of Bihan group will also succeed in the confectionery business.
