: Saturday, 05 July 2025 7:53 PM
Bhilwara. There is no stoppage in the streets of remote villages of Rajasthan. Now not only the rotis are cooked in the courtyard, but also take shape new dreams. With the same hands, women are now making ghee, pickle, spices and beautiful dresses with the same hands. She has become the judge of not only the family, but also the economic ecosystem. This changed scenario has been possible due to the CSR program ‘Sakhi Pahal’ of Hindustan Zinc Limited, which led thousands of women on the path of entrepreneurship. The Sakhi Production Committee, which began in August 2021, is a social enterprise, which has been operated by women and dedicated to women. Its purpose was – converting domestic women of villages into productive power and showing them the path of economic self -reliance. This initiative has become a revolutionary movement in just three years.
So far more than 30 thousand women of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand have joined this initiative of Hindustan Zinc. More than 2000 self -help groups have been formed, collectively saved Rs 18.8 crore and received loans of over Rs 100.6 crore. Thousands of stories are hidden behind these numbers, struggle, change and hope.
Story of Indira Meena: from struggle to respect
The story of Indira Meena, a resident of Javar village near Udaipur, is a lively example of this change. Indira was once busy in homework throughout the day, but when the unit of salty in her village opened, her life changed. She says, “Every day I eagerly wait to come to this unit. Here I not only get to learn the art of salty, but also increases confidence by working with my friends.”
Indira and her companions together make delicious salty prepared from pure materials-pure cold-represented oil, in-house spices and traditional dishes method. Now Indira spends the expenses of her son’s education and is partner in the responsibilities of her home with full self -respect.
Travel from local to national market
Two major brands of Sakhi Production Committee – Dadchi and Upya – have now crossed the boundaries of villages and have become the choice of consumers across the country. In Dadchi, where pure, natural and chemical-free food products are found-such as cow’s ghee, mango pickle, spices and cold-prashed oil-at the same time, costumes, bags and home decks are being made through traditional Rajasthani hand-block prints through Upaya.
Hindustan Zinc has created a comprehensive marketing network to make these brands recognized across the country. These products have been reached in markets ranging from local fairs to state and national levels. In 2023, an online platform called ‘Hearts with Fingers’ was launched, which directly connects rural producers to customers. Dadchi products are now available on major platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart. Out of these, cow’s ghee ‘Gaayam’ received Amazon Choice Badge and mango pickle became the bestseller.
Extension of production units and trained women power
At present, there are a total of 14 production units in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand under the Sakhi Production Committee – 8 textile units and 6 food units. More than 200 women are employed directly from them. In addition, more than 100 ‘Business Sakhi’ works as an ambassador in rural areas, earning additional income by selling products in nearby villages and towns. In the financial year 2024-25, these friends collectively earned Rs 39.5 lakh and the total revenue of the committee was Rs 2.31 crore.
The Oil-Pressing Unit of Sakhi is employed in the village of Coral Kheda of Chittorgarh, which controls the supply of raw materials required for pickles and salty production. Honey processing unit has been set up in Rudrapur (Uttarakhand), from where high quality pure honey is being prepared. Crocuta training is also being given to women here.
Sewing training centers are being operated in Railmagara and Dariba, where more than 30 women are undergoing training in sewing of costumes. In Dariba itself, the bar and millet biscuit manufacturing unit has given employment to more than 100 women. At the same time, a block printing unit is being set up in Kayad village near Ajmer, so that traditional art can be preserved and it can be transported to the national level through the ‘Upya’ brand.
A new consciousness, a new confidence
The Sakhi Production Committee has not only employed women, but has also brought them to the mainstream of society. The women who had never crossed the house of the house have become the leaders of their community today. They are now not only workers, but planners, designers, manager and brand ambassadors.
This effort of Hindustan Zinc has been continuously continuously for seven years. Training them according to women’s interests and needs, forming self-help groups, teaching marketing skills and providing markets for products-all this is the result of a thinking that considers women empowerment as not just slogans, practical reality.
Finally – Sakhi is not just a name, movement
Thousands of women are on the path of self -sufficiency through the Sakhi Production Committee today. She is not only making products, but is weaving a social fabric in which every woman gets dignity, identity and self-confidence. Sakhi has proved that if women of rural India get the right opportunity and support, then they can become the economic backbone of the entire country.
This is the success of not only a committee, but an idea – that when the change starts from the frame of the house, then the picture of the society changes.
Also read – Click to read your state / city news before the newspaper
Web Title-New example of Empowerment: Sakhi Production Committee is changing the fate of rural women
