https://in.news.yahoo.com/adding-colours-lives-women-rang-sutra-103328349.html

Adding colours to lives of women: Rang Sutra

 Yahoo News

By Mohd Anis ur Rahman Khan

Poonch, Dec. 31 (ANI): Some people are worried about earning their livelihood and make all efforts to arrange for the basic needs of life. Everyone manages his own livelihood, whether it is the head of the family or the country's Prime Minister.

At present, for the same reason our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is touring foreign countries to promote the "Make In India" campaign in the international arena. By visiting, so many countries will invest in India, manufacture their products and give more and more employment to our youth so that our farmers, youth and students do not commit suicide.

It is quite clear that after education, other options like skill development, handicrafts and businesses can be explored. A new department, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has been formed under which programmes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Udaan, Himayat, Skill Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme (STAR) etc. have been launched wherein an individual is given skill based training depending on his education, skill set and interest.

After the successful termination of the course, a certain amount is disbursed as loan so that the trainee can set up his / her own enterprise or business instead of being a burden on others. In today's era, the world is a global village, wherein due to internet and other latest technologies we can get the knowledge about any corner of the world whenever we desire.

The Prime Minister was the chief guest on the occasion of the first ever World Youth Skills Day on July 15, 2015, and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched the Skill India Campaign at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

As per government declaration, more than 18,000 graduates received employment letters. In fact, within the country around 2,33,000 youth were given certificates by the ITI and the Prime Minister announced the Skill Monetary Rewards scheme wherein skilled personnel can get loans ranging from 5,000 to 15,0000 so that they can build their future. As per this programme, the government's target is to give out loans to around 34 lakh youth all over the country.

There is a company called "Rang Sutra" which enables artisans, skilled youth and farmers to get employment. Sumita Ghose, a widow, established the company in 2006. This company gives employment to helpless artisans from the remote parts of the country, whether from Rajasthan, Uttaranchal or from the hilly regions of Assam. These artisans not only get employment but also get their share in the company.

The following are the aims of this company: -

(a) To act as a bridge between the artisans and the buyers. (b) To maintain a balance between the past and the present. (c) Maintain change and stability.

(d) To provide sustainable growth, employment and respect to farmers and skilled people.

Riyaz Malik, a resident of the border town of Poonch, got the opportunity to visit the Urmul Trust, based in Bajju village of Bikaner district on January 26, 2015, due to the assistance from Charkha Development Communication Network, a Delhi based Non-Government Organisation.

In Bajju, there is desert all around and the population is sparse. According to the members of Urmul Trust, the local people are employed as per their likes and talent. After partition, there were a number of people who migrated from Pakistan but were losing touch with their artistic talent.

Rang Sutra along with an NGO has helped identify these people and motivated them to pursue their ancestral profession by helping them. They played an important role in promoting their handicrafts in the market. As a result, their work has been appreciated in the national as well as international markets.

One such artisan Mohini Devi narrates, "I was an ordinary woman, but since I associated myself with Rang Sutra my life has changed. Due to my work, I was awarded 'Usha International Award' in Delhi in 2014 by famous Hindi film actress Priyanka Chopra, which is a matter of pride for me. I have some advice, if apart from writing you can motivate people to do stitching and embroidery and if their work is good, they will find a good market."

Rang Sutra employs artisans in small groups in various small towns where different types of craftsmen are present. For example, the weavers and artisans who make handicraft items and small groups of artisans who work together are trained by the company in traditional embroidery related works in a new style. The company does not just spread talent, it sends these artisans to markets where they can sell the products manufactured by them and provides them necessary information and idea about reasonable pricing.