A Potka artisan of East Singhbhum, 50km from Jamshedpur, Rani Hansdah giggles when the word computer is mentioned. But, her woven grass products are sold online.
Rani is not alone. Skilled rural artisans from Potka block and Pyatkar artists of Dalbhumgarh block, East Singhbhum, have found a couple of e-tail platforms to showcase their products.
Twenty-three women of a self-help group in Janumdih, Potka, are selling sabai grass products on virtual platforms of the central government and a Bangalore-based not-for-profit organisation.
Mahila e-Haat, a central government virtual space to support women entrepreneurs, has products of Janumdih women, said Kalamandir, the Jamshedpur-based outfit that implemented this handicraft project a decade ago.
Kalamandir secretary Amitava Ghosh said so far pictures of a few grass products - mats and baskets, among others - made by Janumdih women with prices were listed on the website http://mahilaehaat-rmk.gov.in. "More will be put up soon," he said, adding the website showcases products made/ manufactured/ sold by women entrepreneurs.
"Janumdih products being showcased on Mahila e-Haat means a lot. You'll see our pictures on the landing page of the website. It's an honour for the women. Also, they trust the government and will get a fair price as payments will directly be transferred to the self-help group's account," Kalamandir's Ghosh said.
In Amadubi, Dalbhumgarh, 60km from Jamshedpur, pyatkar paintings of a few rural artists are on the website of www.habba.org, a Bangalore-based not-for-profit organisation. So are some grass products made by Janumdih women. Kalamandir facilitated this contact too.
Ramakrishna N.K. co-founder and director of Habba, said over phone from Bangalore that as of now they focused on pyatkar paintings and grass products from Jharkhand but gradually would showcase other handmade items too. "Our uniqueness is that we are transparent to the point that the customer knows what percentage of selling price reaches artisans," he said.
Rani doesn't understand e-tail but is savvy enough. "Now we will earn more for our children and families." she said.
