Jammu, October 1:
While everyone is immersed in worshipping ‘Shakti’ on the auspicious occasion of Navratri, Beena Bakshi from Jammu is working to empower women in real life.
By collecting old clothes and making tiffin covers, foot mats, and cloth envelopes from them. She has not only transformed waste into something useful. But has also given a new direction to the lives of dozens of women.
Bina Bakshi is engaged in a campaign to empower economically weak women living in Jammu’s labor colonies by imparting skills and making them self-reliant.
She has established a self-help group called Nandini at a government-built shelter home for the destitute in the Baghe-Bahu area.
Bina’s efforts are not only an example of women’s empowerment, but also a major step towards environmental protection. In response to the growing threat of polythene bags, cloth bags and envelopes are being made here. Their sale provides sustainable employment for women and also protects the environment.
The government is also continuously providing support to encourage the work of these women. During the Amarnath Yatra, they are allowed to set up stalls at the base camp, Bhagwati Nagar. Here, these women sell decorative items depicting Jammu and Kashmir culture, clothing for idols, and useful items made from cloth to pilgrims and travelers from across the country. This not only increases their income but also spreads the cultural heritage of the state to far-flung areas.
