Story of tribal women's transformation from homemakers to artisans in West Champaran

Found ubiquitously along streams and other water bodies in the forest of Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Pater (paat grass), a wild plant as known in local parlance, costs nothing. But a posse of women in Tharu-dominated region of Bihar, after learning the nuances of making exquisite household articles with the plant, have graduated into a new world by becoming "artisan from simple homemaker" and opened a new chapter of self-reliance in a West Champaran village here.

- Sandeep Bhaskar

LAUKARIA (WEST CHAMPARAN): Found ubiquitously along streams and other water bodies in the forest of Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Pater (paat grass), a wild plant as known in local parlance, costs nothing. But a posse of women in Tharu-dominated region of Bihar, after learning the nuances of making exquisite household articles with the plant, have graduated into a new world by becoming "artisan from simple homemaker" and opened a new chapter of self-reliance in a West Champaran village here.

According to officials in Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED), Ranchi, ministry of tribal affairs, government of India, as many as 75 tribal women artisans belonging to Bagaha 2 block of West Champaran are registered with it and are being made beneficiary of the government schemes.

"We placed an order to the tune of ₹25 lakh in the 2024-25 financial year and organised the Aadi Mahotsav to promote the art and craft works. We are looking forward to organising exhibitions and order to these women during the next financial year,"said Sumit Singh, warehouse manager, TRIFED, Ranchi.