Murshidabad Women Craft Balaposh, Earn Thousands, Achieve Self-Reliance

• Women in Pallishree village, Murshidabad, are earning thousands monthly by making 'balaposh', a light winter quilt-like garment, becoming self-reliant.
• Approximately 95% of women in the village are involved in this cottage industry, managing household chores alongside their work.
• The 'balaposh' are made year-round, especially busy during winter, and are exported to neighboring villages and districts like Malda and Birbhum.
• The process involves joining two old silk sarees, inserting silk cotton, and stitching them like a kantha.
• Women like Anima Sarkar earn up to 80 rupees per 'balaposh' and dream of starting their own ventures, with some earning up to seven thousand rupees monthly.

Why It Matters: Pallishree women's 'balaposh' making initiative fosters self-reliance and economic empowerment.