“Though making vadagams (fryums) is hard work in the sun, the profit of a few thousands of rupees a month is big for us,” said Meenakshi, whose Self-Help Group manufactures vadagams flavoured with mudakathaan, pudhina, tomato and curry leaves.
Her SHG is among the 160 participants at the Regional Saras Fair organised by the Ministry of Rural Development and presented by the Tamil Nadu Women’s Development Corporation at YMCA grounds, Royapettah that is on till March 21.
For women of Amirtham SHG from The Nilgiris, processing and selling tea, spices and oils for the past two years has helped increase their income. “Some of us were working in shops or at homes as domestic helps. But now if we sell a pack of cleaned garam masala, we get ?50, which we divide amongst ourselves. We have been in this group for nine years now and over the years, have become role models for others,” said S. Gomathi.
Freedom beckons
Being part of the SHG movement has helped G. Lavanya, a graduate from Arupukottai, earn while working from home. “Though my mother wants to me to become a teacher, I prefer this business since I do it at my own convenience. I buy Chettinad cotton saris in bulk from weavers and sell them to clients,” she said, adding that being part of an SHG helped her get loans to cover at least a portion of her investment.
SHGs from 20 States are participating in the exhibition where you can also pick up leather puppets manufactured by traditional artisan Sindhe Mahesh from Andhra Pradesh, wooden archery sets from Rajasthan and artificial jewellery and salwar materials among others. The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on all days.
Her SHG is among the 160 participants at the Regional Saras Fair organised by the Ministry of Rural Development and presented by the Tamil Nadu Women’s Development Corporation at YMCA grounds, Royapettah that is on till March 21.
For women of Amirtham SHG from The Nilgiris, processing and selling tea, spices and oils for the past two years has helped increase their income. “Some of us were working in shops or at homes as domestic helps. But now if we sell a pack of cleaned garam masala, we get ?50, which we divide amongst ourselves. We have been in this group for nine years now and over the years, have become role models for others,” said S. Gomathi.
Freedom beckons
Being part of the SHG movement has helped G. Lavanya, a graduate from Arupukottai, earn while working from home. “Though my mother wants to me to become a teacher, I prefer this business since I do it at my own convenience. I buy Chettinad cotton saris in bulk from weavers and sell them to clients,” she said, adding that being part of an SHG helped her get loans to cover at least a portion of her investment.
SHGs from 20 States are participating in the exhibition where you can also pick up leather puppets manufactured by traditional artisan Sindhe Mahesh from Andhra Pradesh, wooden archery sets from Rajasthan and artificial jewellery and salwar materials among others. The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on all days.