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SHG women learn artificial jewellery-making

Photo: T. Singaravelou

New trade: Members of self-help groups making artificial jewellery during a training programme organised by State Bank of India in Puducherry on Sunday. —

PUDUCHERRY: After candles, pickles and sari embroidery, women belonging to Self-Help Groups (SHG) in Puducherry tried their hand for the first time at artificial jewellery-making on Sunday.

Helping them keep in line with the market trend, the Pondicherry Agriculture Development Branch of State Bank of India (SBI) organised a training programme on manufacturing artificial jewellery.

“There are 1,000 SHG women account-holders in our bank. We have given them loans to the tune of Rs. five crore in the last three years but only 25 per cent of them are involved in activities. The rest are afraid of the market trend,” branch manager R.Balaveni said.

Most of the SHGs were running canteens, selling pickles and phenol, manufacturing fur toys, saree embroidery and candle-making.

Through this training programme, the bank would select women who master the skills quickly and provide a week’s training to them. “We will provide the necessary finance to help them establish a cottage industry for manufacturing artificial jewellery,” she added.

As enthusiastic SHG women learnt the skills of making artificial jewellery, their trainer Sudha Rani from Chennai said it had numerous benefits including low investment and high profits.

“Artificial jewellery is easy to make and does not need a separate place. With an investment of Rs. 2,000, they can earn a profit of Rs. 5,000. They can make a jewellery set including a necklace and bangles within an hour. It takes Rs. 50 to make a necklace, while it can be sold for Rs.150,” Ms. Rani said.

Adding to the list of benefits is the market trend which is now in favour of artificial jewellery as the cost of gold continues to escalate. Made with ‘Kundan stones,’ artificial jewellery are definitely here to stay, she added.

For the 100-odd participants, the training programme was more than a blessing. “Young girls prefer artificial jewellery now. We can even teach other SHGs and take it up as a business,” member of Vanavil SHG in Sethurapet Mohana Ezhumalai said.

Member of Annai Theresa SHG of the Centre for Social Action and Development R. Vijaya said it would help them to earn a good profit. “The bank has promised to provide finance and this will indeed help to improve our standard of life,” she added.

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