Women Group Promotes Environmental Conservation and Self-Sufficiency by Making Diyas

By: WE Staff | Friday, 5 November 2021

Women in Jaipur are setting an excellent example of environmental conservation and self-sufficiency during Diwali. A group of rural ladies are creating 'Diyas' (lamps) out of cow dung that can be used as manure after Diwali.

Women from around 17 districts throughout the state will make eco-friendly lamps out of cow dung to light up homes and courtyards during the festival of lights, in addition to Jaipur. This one-of-a-kind initiative was launched in Pinjrapole Gaushala in Jaipur's Sanganer neighbourhood, where women are seeing their aspirations of being "vocal-for-local" come true using cow dung.

These women have not only provided employment for their fellow women by producing 'Diyas' during the difficult corona times, but they have also strengthened Indian culture in their own unique way, securing much-needed revenue for their families' survival.

Cow dung is dried, filtered, and combined with black mud to manufacture these lamps. Herbs (powder) are added in at the same time to make it healthier for consumers.

In this attempt, 'Jatamas,' herbs, linseed, pods, and gums are combined and put into the lamp's mould. The lamps are given a wonderful form by utilising 40% fresh dung and 60% dried dung. The lamps are adorned with a variety of colours after drying in the sun for two days.

For the past three years, the Hahneman Charitable Mission Society (HCMS) has made these remarkable lamps out of cow dung from the Organic Park in Sri Pinjrapole Goshala.

Every day, 15 women from the Mata Rani Self-Help Group ( affiliated with the Hahneman Charitable Mission Society make 5,000 lights, allowing each of these ladies to earn Rs 350 per day.

Meena Bairwa from Tonk district is her family's primary breadwinner.           

Bairwa says, “My husband had no regular job and we faced a really tough time during the corona crisis. After I came from Tonk, we formed a Women Self Help Group through the support of the Hahneman Charitable Mission Society. They guided us to make Diyas and now each one of us is able to earn about INR 350 per day”.