Central Social Welfare Board chairperson Prema Cariappa at a stall. Telegraph picture

Rancho, Nov. 11: State’s women entrepreneurs are finding it difficult to sell their homemade products due to the absence of market space.

As a result most of the products made by women self-help groups (SHGs) which include gel candles, jewelleries, jute bags, shawls, bamboo items, incense sticks and flower pots have failed in getting a fair return against the hard work put in making them.

The revelation came at the foundation day celebrations of the Jharkhand State Social Welfare Board at the Town Hall. There were around 15 stalls put up by women entrepreneurs at the venue.

“In every district there should be a haat to sell our products, otherwise if we go to different shops they just give us a little amount of the product ranging from Rs 30-50. But the money invested in making the flower pots almost costs Rs 150,” said Shamima Khatoon, who is associated with the organisation Heera Mahila Vikas Sansthan, Bero.

She rued that they have formed 50 SHGs. “The raw materials are locally purchased. We do not get any type of help from the banks in purchasing the raw material. We collect money from our members to keep our unit alive,” said Khatoon.

The other SHGs present in the function included Mahila Shishu Jan Vikas Samiti (Bokaro), Khadi Gram Udyog Kala Niketan, Pragiti Educational Academy, Adivasi Vikas Kendra and Harijan Adivasi Kalyan Parishad among others.

Arti Jaiswal, the secretary of Mahila Shishu Jan Vikas Samit based in Bokaro said that there were no shops in the state where the products could be sold for reasonable returns. “ We mostly purchase the raw materials from Calcutta to make the jewelleries and other items, for which we fund ourselves,” she added.

Jaiswal said that they have requested the state social welfare board to open marketing centre.” At times it is also seen that our handmade products remain unsold which adds up to our already existing problems. It also discourages workers,” pointed out Jaiswal.

Anita Kujur was quite enthusiastic to admit that her team gets better response at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan than its home state. “Almost all the items were sold when we had put up our stalls there this year. But back home, we do not get returns up to our expectations,” Kujur added.

Renu Shilpi a bamboo craft maker came out with similar response demanding a separate market for handicraft.