- Attractive Rakhis made from local materials became a source of income
- Women from self-help groups in various development blocks of the district are manufacturing and selling Rakhis.
- Special Rakhi selling stall at Akanksha Haat from 21st to 28th August
This year, Rakshabandhan has brought the opportunity for self-reliance and economic empowerment, along with brotherly affection, for the rural women associated with Bihan in the district. Under the guidance of Mr. Prakhar Chandrakar, Chief Executive Officer of the District Panchayat, women from self-help groups affiliated with the Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihan) are creating attractive rakhis using local and traditional materials. The sale of these rakhis provides additional income for the women, and they are moving towards local self-employment. In Mainpur development block, women from a self-help group are operating a Rakhi manufacturing and sales operation. The group has produced rakhis costing ₹5,340 and has sold rakhis worth ₹11,258 so far.
Similarly, in Gariaband development block, four women members of the Gayatri Self-Help Group, Sadhauli, affiliated with the Sanjeevani Complex Organization, Joba, are creating various types of attractive rakhis. The group has prepared a variety of rakhis using rice, pearls, peas, jaggery, sesame, and other locally sourced materials. These rakhis are priced from ₹5 to ₹60. The women of the Jai Bhavani Self-Help Group in Jamli village, Chhura block, have also taken the initiative to market bamboo-made rakhis. The women of the group have also produced rakhis in previous years. Expanding this activity in 2026, a stock of approximately 1,000 rakhis has been created, which will be sold during Rakshabandhan.
Mrs. Koyal Sahu, a member of the Jai Maa Ghatarani Self-Help Group in Rohina village panchayat, Fingeshwar block, is manufacturing attractive and quality rakhis through the Vijay Vikas Mahila Sankul Sangathan, Kaundkera. This year, she has produced approximately 5,000 rakhis, ranging from ₹5 to ₹40, with various designs. The group has prepared Rakhis at a cost of Rs 10,000 and has registered sales of Rs 12,000 till now. Currently, around 4,000 Rakhis are available, from the sale of which an estimated profit of up to Rs 16,000 can be earned. Rakhi selling
stalls are being set up through canopy in all the district panchayats in order to provide market to the Rakhis manufactured by the women of self-help groups in the district and to promote their products. Attractive and handmade Rakhis are being made available to the citizens through these stalls. Along with this, efforts are being made to connect the products of women groups with the wider market.
In this regard, the Gariaband District Administration is setting up a special Rakhi sale stall through Aakanksha Haat from August 21st to 28th, 2026. Necessary preparations have been completed for the stall’s operation, display, and sale of Rakhi products. This will provide rural women in the district with a better market for their products and encourage locally produced Rakhis. Rural women associated with Bihan are no longer limited to traditional livelihood activities, but are also moving towards non-agricultural enterprises, product manufacturing, packaging, pricing, and market linkages. By linking festivals with the market for local products, women in self-help groups are gaining additional income opportunities.
Through Bihan, the District Panchayat, Gariaband, is continuously making efforts to connect women in self-help groups with entrepreneurship development, skill development, financial inclusion, product manufacturing, and market access. Activities like Rakhi manufacturing provide women with employment at the household and village levels, while also strengthening their self-confidence and decision-making. District Panchayat Gariaband has appealed to the citizens of the district to give priority to local Rakhis and other products made by the sisters of Bihan Self-Help Group on festivals like Rakshabandhan and participate in the economic empowerment of rural women.
