Women Empowerment and Zari Training
Project Background
Since
inception, FACE was involved in implementation of
various community based project aiming towards
empowerment of women, especially those belonging to the
rural community & slum area. It is noteworthy to mention
here that Pakur has a high concentration of Muslim and
primitive tribe population and status of women belonging
to these communities is quite abysmal. During the
financial year 2009-2010, NABARD, Ranchi provided fund
to FACE under Rural Entrepreneurship Development
Programme (REDP) to work with
women for imparting skill training on �Zari Making� at a
large scale. Prior to the start of the training. Face
organized an exposure visit for some selected women to
project area of a West Bengal (Bauriya-Howrah district)
based NGO � Taj Mahal Foundation, where the local women
were involved in zari work as a part of their income
generation programme.
The visit generated a positive impact on the women of
Pakur who carried it back to their native village to
share it with their neighbours & friends. Later FACE
selected a cadre of prospective trainees after an
intensive survey. A training module was developed and a
45 days formal training on Zari work was conducted for
all the identified women. Similarly earlier with support
of NFI FACE ran a project to - �ensure participation of
women in rural development�. With an objective to
empower local women. A major outcome of this project was
formation of various SHGs of rural women which in the
process enabled the women of the area to make decisions
on their own, express their opinion & views on various
aspects of rural development. Effort was also been given
to make these women self reliant through various short
term income generation programmes. These exposures
helped FACE to bring the women & men of the area to come
out of the shackles of purdah system and demand for
further involvement in various income generation
programmes for immediate economic independence and long
term sustenance. Government of Jharkhand's subsidiary
JHARCRAFT has also agreed to support FACE in training,
procurement of raw materials and marketing of the
finished products very soon.
Project Description
Zarri work involves fine craftsmanship and includes
various patterns of stitching & sewing like sitara
making, pattern development, border grafting etc. FACE
initiated all the base works to start a zari training
centre. An expert trainer was engaged.
Training shade with required infrastructural facilities
was identified. �Dhadda� (a specialized training
equipment) was installed. Daily activity schedule was
fixed between 11 am to 5 pm.30 Women who were willing to
receive the training were identified & enlisted. The
trainees were divided in to groups and separate time
table was prepared for each group. Trainees selected
their group as per their suitability.
Impact on the Community
In spite of impediments, the zari work skill development
training ushered in positive impact on the women and
their community as a whole.
Positive Self-image
Women who once hesitated to come out were able to
build a positive self image. Successful accomplishment
of completion of training increased their self
confidence and enhanced their self esteem. Male folk
of the community also gained trust and confidence on
their women counterpart.
Improved Decision Making Power
The women were in process of developing ability to
think independently & make decisions of their own.
Ability to make correct choices on their own boosted
their self image & confidence.