ORMAS trains Muslim women in ‘kantha’ embroidery
BHUBANESWAR: The embroidery work of “kantha” is in for a much needed surge. Along with it, a host of women from the Muslim community, are all set to become self-reliant adding handsomely to their family income.
The Kesharpur area here has become the operational field for a novel initiative aimed at achieving both, giving a new lease of life to the traditional craft as well as bringing economic fillip among one of the most backward sections of society here.
The initiative launched by Orissa Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) under Mission Shakti has trained about 102 women of the community in making commercially viable and contemporary products in kantha embroidery.
The products include bed-sheets, sarees, ladies garments, table cloth, curtains, upholstery including bed, TV and computer covers, etc.
Kantha is a traditional embroidery craft practised by women to churn out new products by using old clothes. Layers of old clothes were used to make quilts or bed mattresses and put in every day use. The essence was in taking out thread from the borders of the used cloth to stitch decorative patterns and designs using folk motifs, floral, animal and bird figures and even mythical themes.
“The craft is native to West Bengal and Bangladesh, though it was adopted in Orissa long ago. We took the Muslim community because they are traditionally skilled in this craft as more than 40 per cent of them here owe their origins to West Bengal and Bangladesh,” said ORMAS Chief Executive, Cuttack, BB Rout.
The Khwaja Garib Nawaj SHG at Keshapur here has been trained in marketing of the products which range from institutional supply, door-to-door sale, tie-ups with leading garment stores for job work besides participating in various exhibitions. kantha embroidery is gaining popularity and has created a place in the niche market, Rout said.
The womenfolk would earn over Rs 100 a day by engaging in this vocation, mostly as part-time.