RANGPUR, Oct 9, (BSS): Needlework like embroidering, spangling saree, ornamental stitching on female clothes has turned into an effective venture for the unemployed and distressed rural women in changing fortune in recent years.
Some 42,000 unemployed, poor and distressed rural women, housewives, young girls, divorcees have attained self-reliance through working at home or smaller enterprises locally in Rangpur division as the prospective venture continues to grow faster.
According to sources in different government and non-government organisations, needlework adds additional values to female clothes making those high-priced in the country's sophisticated markets including capital city.
As result of continuous success, needlework has been getting the shape of a growing cottage industry attracting local entrepreneurs as well as different organisations to change the rural macro-economy and alleviate abject poverty.
Dozens of the successful rural women have now launched their own enterprises after getting necessary training and assistance from different government and non-government organisations and local traders.
With the assistances of RDRS Bangladesh alone, more than 2,000 unemployed and distressed women, victims of repression and violence, divorcees, widows and physically challenged women have so far achieved self-reliance through needlework at homes.
Entrepreneur Abu Bakar Siddik has set up mini garment factory at Dimla upazila town of Nilphamari to promote skill development of rural women and established eight more production centres to enhance needlework and handloom garment industry.
Many trained women have been working at his production centres set up at different rural areas of Dimla and Domar upazilas in Nilphamari after getting training from his mini garment factory.
Like the other successful women at these centres, Rasheda, 35, Lipa, 21, Rafia, 38, Ambia, 35, and Samina, 32, said they are earning Taka 5,000 to 6,000 every month now to lead solvent life with their family members and children.
