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Women in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh have opened a new channel of trade by making and exporting environment-friendly cow dung clocks and décor items abroad
The products are crafted from a mixture of 70% cow dung and 30% soil, making them durable. (Local18)
Brass and metal décor is all the rage these days in urban Indian homes. But do you know what kind of handicraft is being exported from rural India to countries like US, UK and Australia? Cow dung artifacts!
That’s right, women in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh have opened a new channel of trade by making and exporting environment-friendly cow dung clocks and décor items abroad.
The exquisite wall clocks made of cow dung come in diverse designs and have garnered praise not only in India but also in countries like US, Australia, and the UK.
The organization behind this initiative is Vichar Samiti, which is committed to environmental protection in Sagar and is also working to empower women and making them self-reliant. They have engaged 750 women from the city in this initiative, creating a range of items from cow dung, including idols, ‘Shubh Labh’ symbols, lamps, garlands, and shields.
Ahead of Diwali, this group of women crafted approximately 5,000 cow dung clocks, with supply already meeting about 90% of the demand. Buyers have been appreciating the excellent finishing and antique designs of these wall clocks, which are both budget-friendly and environmentally sustainable.
Among the products, wall clocks are the most sought-after items, ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 1,500 apiece.
Sunita Jain Arihant, executive president of Vichar Samiti, says every woman associated with the committee is progressing towards self-reliance. “Women who work consistently throughout the year easily earn an average of Rs 5,000,” she says.
“This year, 1.1 million lamps have been made and supplied to many districts of Madhya Pradesh. Supplies have also been made to other states. A large number of orders have also been received from America,” she adds. She also note a high demand for incense sticks from 10 countries.
Jain explains that the cow dung products are crafted from a mixture of 70% cow dung and 30% soil, making them durable. These items are designed using natural colours, she adds.
