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Doll-Making Industry Helps Tripura Generate Jobs For Women

Totally a-doll-able 😊
ANI

AGARTALA -- Doll-making is emerging as a major source of employment for women in Tripura.

For the last 55 years, the Krishnanagar Women Utility Cooperative Society run by Chhaya Dey has taken up the endevour.

Her dolls represent tribes, communities, gods and goddess and sometimes even animals, flower vases and other decorative items.

Chhaya has formed a women's cooperative and training centre, where she trains more than 250 women so that they can earn from their homes.

"There is huge demand for these products and every fair I have attended, have seen these dolls sold out within two days," said Chhaya.

"Initially, I use to train only eight to ten women, but gradually it went up to thirty. The ONGC asked me to train some of their women, then the Ministry of Textiles launched the Guru Sirsha Parampar scheme, and this year, the ICA department has selected me as a guru," she added.

Unlike other fabric and plastic made dolls, the striking feature of Chhaya's dolls happens to be medicated cotton, which is totally safe for children.

Chhaya makes the bodies of the doll by wrapping cotton and bandage cloth in an aluminum wire for an accurate shape instead of using mud in the traditional way. She then sews it with suitable clothing and jewellery for the final shape.

Monika Das, a trained doll-maker, said, "I came to know about this doll making centre, so I joined. I can do this in my leisure time at my house. I can earn something with this for my family and will help to educate my children. I enjoy working here along with everyone and know that it will be of great help to run my family better."

Sibani Banik said, "Most of us here are housewives and it is not necessary for everyone to get a government job. This is a skill which we can do with old clothes and sitting at our homes, we can earn something; otherwise, we are dependent on our husbands for pocket money. This is a good source of earning, as everyone needs money."

The price range of general category dolls is between β‚Ή100 and β‚Ή120, while the special ones, like those of deities, are priced around β‚Ή300 to β‚Ή350.

Chhaya was also invited by the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) and the Tripura government's Information and Cultural Affairs (ICA) department to train and as well as participate with her products in fairs held outside the state.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.