Visitors at the exhibition at Patna College of Arts and Crafts on Monday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Oct. 17: An exhibition-cum-sale of handicraft items made by women artisans from poor families at College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, has been drawing visitors in hordes.

The artisans have been trained for over a year by Srijani, an NGO working for women.

Various items, including cane lamps, wall hangings, pen stands, folders, ladies’ bags, sarees with traditional Bihari sujani work, bedsheets and cushion covers, are on display at the exhibition.

Encouraged by the respo-nse the exhibition has received, the organisers have extended the three-day event, which was supposed to conclude today, by another day.

“We have received an overwhelming response from the residents of Patna. Therefore, we have decided to continue the exhibition-cum-sale for another day,” one of the organisers told The Telegraph.

“It is my goal to enrol more women and make them self-dependent. I aim to make 1,000 Srijanis in the next five years through my enterprise,” said Veena Upadhyay, the director of Srijani.

“I started Srijani in October last year. At that time, I chose to provide compulsory education to these women because people cannot stand on their feet without basic education. After the initial training, they were taught work related to making handicraft products,” she said.

“Sukhda Pandey, the minister art, culture and youth affairs, has invited members of Srijani for next year’s Bihar Divas celebrations in Udaipur. Women participating in this exhibition are really excited about this announcement,” Veena said.

For 45-year-old Chanda Devi, Srijani has been a fresh lease of life. Recalling her traumatic childhood and how Srijani turned her life around, she said: “Today, I earn Rs 6,000 every month. Through these handicraft items I tell the story of my own life. Now, I can bear the expenses of my children.”

Young visitors at the exhibition-cum-sale were impressed with what they saw. “These earrings look really attractive. The collection is very good,” Nimmi Singh, an 18 year old, said.