Women of Taman Khola Become Self-Reliant Through Dhaka Textile Industry

Women of Taman Khola Rural Municipality in Baglung are earning up to NPR 50,000 per month by weaving Dhaka fabrics, becoming self-reliant. The rural municipality has invested NPR 2.5 million in providing buildings, training, and necessary materials to empower these women entrepreneurs. With the municipality purchasing the produced Dhaka fabrics and facilitating ample market access, local women have become increasingly motivated. (May 30, Galkot, Baglung)

Jamuna Gharti from Taman village is busy weaving Dhaka fabric. Since early morning, she has been working on crafting Dhaka asokot at the building of the Women’s Welfare Mother Group in Taman Khola Rural Municipality–3. Similarly, 15 women here weave various types of Dhaka fabric daily. Through the Dhaka industry, the rural municipality has been continuously supporting women to become entrepreneurs and has also been purchasing their products.

The women produce and sell Dhaka shawls, caps, garlands, and asokots, gaining self-reliance in the process. Gharti explained that the rural municipality buys the fabrics produced by the women and assists them in marketing. Approximately seven years ago, they acquired skills from a trainer who came from Myagdi, and with skill development and group organization, the rural municipality has invested to help expand the business professionally.

For seven years, the rural municipality has been conducting programs to train women, provide materials, construct buildings, purchase products, and facilitate sales to develop women as businesspersons, self-employed individuals, and entrepreneurs. “The municipality has implemented various programs. We use the shawls and garlands produced by the women as symbols of love and respect. In senior citizen honor programs, we also manage the market for caps, garlands, and asokots made by women,” stated Hirakumari Chhantyal, the deputy chairperson of the rural municipality.

Deputy Chairperson Chhantyal further noted that seven years ago, the municipality assisted women with skill-based training, provision of necessary materials, and building construction. So far, the municipality has invested close to NPR 2.5 million for materials, buildings, and training. She mentioned that some women are now earning up to NPR 50,000 per month. Although there were initial challenges in marketing the products, the municipality’s ongoing purchases have encouraged the women. Jamuna Gharti, the treasurer of the Women’s Welfare Mother Group, expressed that with government support, the women of Taman Khola are making progress toward entrepreneurial self-reliance.