- Women from Prayagraj named Soumya Singh and Anupriya Sharma are causing a stir with their distinctive handicrafts
- The program aims to increase self-employment among women in both urban and rural areas
Two Sangam City women, Soumya Singh and Anupriya Sharma, have become remarkable success stories in the handicraft industry as a result of the state government's aggressive promotion of traditional handicrafts as a steady source of income for women in both urban and rural areas. "Artisans like Soumya Singh and Anupriya Sharma have set new benchmarks in the handicraft business," said Tanya Banerjee, Deputy Director (Handicraft).
Soumya founded her own handicraft business, Laveen, after graduating from the National Institute of Fashion Designing. In just one year, the company has generated an incredible ₹15 lakhs in sales. Her innovative use of natural tie-dye methods, which include printing textiles with flowers and leaves collected from temples, makes her stand out. Apart from her artistic pursuits, Soumya is also generating employment; currently, her company employs more than twenty people.
Anupriya has also had a big impact on the industry by launching Jewellery Fever with a meager ₹1 lakh initial investment. In just one year, the company's turnover has surpassed ₹19 lakhs. Anupriya specializes in making unique jute jewelry from a range of materials. Her products have received high appreciation from people worldwide and have been well received at a number of international handicraft exhibitions. In recognition of her contributions, the department has bestowed upon her the title of "Shilp Didi."
According to Tanya, the state government's efforts are giving women in both rural and urban areas vital opportunities for self-employment in addition to reviving dwindling traditional crafts. Due to rising demand worldwide, what started out as a part-time rural activity has now developed into a booming economic sector.
There are currently more than 51,000 registered artisans in the Handicraft Department's Prayagraj branch, which oversees 11 districts. Prayagraj is the largest of these, with 29,600 artisans. Jhansi (3,970), Pratapgarh (3,492), Fatehpur (2,652), and Kaushambi (1,972) are next in line. These artisans can turn their skills into successful businesses by getting professional training in age-old methods.
The handicraft industry has enormous employment and export potential, officials stressed. Numerous skilled craftspeople have opened their own businesses, and many of them are currently making lakhs of rupees a year.
