Hill Women Form Cooperative, Turn Entrepreneurs

Uttarkashi : In Uttarakhand district of Uttarkashi Women of the, traditionally sidelined from the developmental processes, are forming their own cooperative and producing processed food items, giving big multinational brands a run for their money in local markets.


From garlic, ginger, chili, mixed vegetable and mango pickles to fruit jams and chutneys, all packaged in attractive little plastic jars, women like Damayanti Devi of Kaleshwar village are the new face of business in Uttarakhand.

“I had no self-worth. I just looked after the domestic chores and had no say in decision-making matters in the household. Today, I operate the machines at our processing centre, carry out money transactions and have become a popular face at the local bank. Not bad for an illiterate woman from a small, backward village!” says 45-year-old Devi with a laugh. Being illiterate has not deterred her from pursuing a viable livelihood.

At present, about 250 women from 22 self-help groups (SHGs) across this district are actively engaged in the production and sale of garlic, ginger, chili and mixed vegetable pickles. The latter comprises mango and seasonal vegetables. The women also make fruit jam, chutney and fruit candy.

Though women’s SHGs and other thrift groups have been engaged in community-based activities for over two decades now, organising women under a proper business programme has been the biggest challenge so far.