Candles on display at Dharma Raju’s stall at the Consumex fair in Tulsi Bhavan. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Sept. 11: Amid the usual shopping rush, people pass by Dharma Raju’s fancy candle stall. The candle-seller seems to be an ordinary person until one notices his blindness.

That is not the only thing he does for a living, however. Raju teaches others candle-making and knitting. He also teaches handicrafts to handicapped schoolchildren and housewives who wish to start a business.

From September 9 to 12 he will be displaying his wares at Consumex ’06, an annual fair organised by Marwari Mahila Manch to promote women entrepreneurs.

Though the 13-year old fair focuses on women, Raju is an exception. For the past 25 years, he has been knitting sweaters using machines, a skill he learnt at Jan Siksha Sansthan, a city-based NGO.

“I don’t feel any difficulty at all. In fact, I learnt candle making on my own, as I was interested in handicrafts,” says a confident Raja.

Teaching underprivileged, handicapped schoolchildren and women gives him immense satisfaction, says Raju. “I am not only teaching them skills; my example shows that any person can live with self-respect no matter whatever his difficulties,” he adds.

This diwali, Raju plans to make decorative wax diyas. He makes candles in the shape of various toys.

Raju’s income is supplemented by marketing washing powder, cleaning powder and repairing knitting machines. He is looking for new marketing avenues as well. The idea behind Consumex is to promote new women entrepreneurs and give a chance to the underprivileged.

“We have made at least 60-70 women economically independent. We open booking in May and most of our booking is completed the same day on a lottery basis. Our sole purpose is to give women entrepreneurs a platform to sell,” says Jaya Dokania, former president, Marwari Mahila Samaj.

The fair began yesterday and has about 60 stalls offering a varied range of products. About five to six stalls are given free to those who cannot afford it.

Anything from scented candles to medicinal honey, sarees to lac bangles, purses to household knick-knacks find a place in the stalls here. After supporting people like Raju for three to four years, the same opportunity will be given to new people. The Samaj makes a profit of about Rs 20,000, which is used for its social activities.

Not all come here for larger exposure, though. Usha Agarwal has come here for the first time to advertise her Calcutta showroom which sells georgette sarees and dress materials.

Women from Dhanbad, Ghatsila and Ranchi, too, have participated in the fair.