Interlacing apparel and upholstery designing: An efficient way to complement household income
Ranjeet Kaur, a home-maker, resides at village Toot have an interest to be self-sufficient even though hail from a well to do landlord family. Her family members namely Gurcharan Singh (father-in-law) and Rajinderpal Singh (husband) are associated with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tarn Taran and have been receiving guidance regarding agriculture from Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Ranjeet Kaur while pursuing her trade course (I.T.I.) in Fashion Designing, came into contact with Home Scientist, KVK during a farm visit to her village and expressed her wish to get training from KVK and establish her own boutique at her village.
In May 2017, KVK organized a vocational training providing hands on experience for different techniques in stitching and embroidery at village Booh Hathar and enrolled Ranjeet Kaur in this training programme. After getting training from KVK, Khalsa Boutique and Self-Help Group was established in June 2017 at village Toot by providing different stitch arts such as ladies suits (embroidered and stitched), gents kurta pjama/ western pants/ trousers shirts, kids traditional/ western garments and a number of upholstery items viz. bed covers, cushion/ pillow covers, table clothes, runners, napkins, table mats etc. Besides, she provides work to school drop-out girls under Self-Help Group. From September, 2017 onwards, Ranjeet Kaur have been participating in farmer’s and livestock fair organized by KVK, Tarn Taran and selling garments (Punjabi ladies suits, designer kurtas, kids dohar bags, grocery bags, kids garments) designed by her at these fairs .
These day, the entrepreneur is earning Rs. 1,20,000/- per annum from her boutique while she was unemployed before receiving training from KVK. Moreover, in January 2020, the boutique owner has signed a bond with Parveen Phulkari House, Patti to deliver traditional kurtas for exporting these to boutiques in abroad. Thus, we must say that not only down trodden masses but females from any strata are ready to strengthen women empowerment by identifying their area of interest. It is also worth to discuss that her Self-Help Group extended its services during the critical phase of Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic by preparing and distributing masks for their village residents.
Preparation of face masks and sale of designed garments by Khalsa SHG during Kisan Mela
