Nuapada: An intervention by the government has converted a traditional industry in the district into a burgeoning profession.

Over the past few months, the District Industry Centre in Nuapada persuaded 30 women from Khujapeda village to take up paddy craft. The craft is a traditional practice in parts of western Odisha, but with the advent of machinery, the nuanced aspects of the craft had seen a decline in the past few years.

Now, thanks to the District Industry Centre's intervention, it is not only on the path to regaining lost glory, but has also begun to provide steady income to villagers.

Even a few years ago, most of these women worked as a labourers and construction workers, often migrating to other states in search of employment. But after a few months of training by officers of the District Industry Centre, these once-novice women are now accomplished artisans and weave magic. The products have a great demand in the market and are selling like hot cakes.

The grains of paddy are strung together to bamboo slivers using bright coloured threads to create vases, puja baskets, flowers, idols and others. "We use the unskinned paddy grain to make the products. Production is not costly and the products have a great demand in the market. The cost of the products range between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500," said Sabitri, an artisan.

Pushpa, another artisan, was thankful to the government for its support. "We used to migrate to other states to work as labourers or construction workers. It was really painful to leave our ancestral villages and families for such long periods to earn a living."

"Now that we have learnt the craft, we have started working in our own villages. I must thank the government for the initiative," she said.

Krushna Gadnadia, a trainer with the District Industry Centre said the officials suggested self-engagement to the women and they readily accepted the proposal.

"They were happy that they no longer needed to leave their villages for work. Two self help group were formed and the District Industry Centre provided them with the required training and other support," said Gadnadia.

Today, the products are slowly making inroads into the district and state-level craft melas and exhibitions. The District Industry Centre has its own showrooms as well. "It is nice to see the new-found confidence in these women and the drive to do well. They have requested us to ensure market linkages for their products and we will do the needful," said Trilochan Kar, general manager of the District Industry Centre in Nuapada.