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In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, women are crafting products from pine needles as part of an initiative that aims at providing them with livelihood opportunities while reducing the risk of forest fires. Anjana Pasricha reports on one project in the district of Mandi.]]
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
PLAYBOOK SLUG: INDIA WOMEN PINE NEEDLES
HEADLINE: In India, Women Craft Pine Needles Into Income, Save Forests
TEASER: Project also an effective way to connect local communities with the region’s ecology and raise awareness of conserving the environment.
PUBLISHED AT: 06/30/2023 at 9:10am
BYLINE: Anjana Pasricha
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: New Delhi
VIDEOGRAPHER: Rakesh Kumar
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: pcd, wpm
VIDEO SOURCE: Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 2:42
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: There is an accompanying Web))
((INTRO))
[[In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, women are crafting products from pine needles as part of an initiative that aims at providing them with livelihood opportunities while reducing the risk of forest fires. Anjana Pasricha reports on one project in the district of Mandi.]]
((NARRATOR))
Come summer and a group of women in India’s northern state of Himachal Pradesh comb a nearby forest to gather dead pine needles that the trees have shed in recent months.
After lugging them home, they use a variety of threads to craft the pine needles into products such as pen stands, trays, bread boxes and coasters.
In these mountains, where most families rely on modest farms for incomes, this work has been a boon.
((Lata Devi, Mandi Resident, female in Hindi))
“I no longer need to borrow money. I meet my personal expenses and help the family.”
((Dromati Thakur, Mandi Resident, female in Hindi))
“It feels really good to be independent.”
((NARRATOR))
This forest department initiative in Mandi district also gets rid of the highly flammable pine needles that often cause deadly blazes during summer.
((Vasu Doegar, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Male in English))
To an extent, I won’t say that it will not completely solve the problem. But it is giving a twin benefit. It’s giving us the benefit also and it is giving the local ladies the benefits also, increasing the overall economy or overall income of the household as well.”
((NARRATOR))
Gathering needles from the forest is also an effective way to connect local communities with the region’s ecology.
((Jiten Sharma, Project Officer (Male in Hindi))
“If we involve the public and take them into confidence, then it raises their awareness and gives them a sense of responsibility. It makes them understand the importance of conserving the environment for a lifetime.”
((NARRATOR))
While marketing the handicrafts can pose a challenge, promoting them as eco-friendly products has helped. A bulk order recently from a nearby college gave the women a boost.
((Dromati Thakur, Mandi Resident (Female in Hindi))
“We used to work past midnight and in the day too. We made 50 pen stands in just a week.”
((NARRATOR))
Their motivation: to generate earnings and increase self-confidence.
((Nirma Thakur, Mandi Resident, female in Hindi))
“I now have a personal income. It assists in my children’s education…I have opened a bank account and I try to put some savings in it.”
((NARRATOR))
In a country struggling to create jobs, especially in remote areas, such entrepreneurial work is being seen as the way ahead.
((Jiten Sharma, Project Officer (Male in Hindi))
“In India, more and more people need to be self-employed. This also helps the cause of women’s empowerment.”
((NARRATOR))
That is why more women now want to scour the forest and work with the pine needles.
((Anjana Pasricha for VOA News, New Delhi))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 30, 2023 08:52 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
