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Kolkata’s ‘Project Sukanya’, helping poor women

A Kolkata woman has launched a project to provide employment to poverty-ridden women. Apartna Banerjee’s Project Sukanya is essentially a chain of stores managed by women, selling wares made by them. The mobile outlets are called `Bou Carts` (daughter-in-law`s carts) and are visible at key points in the city.

Kolkata: A Kolkata woman has launched a project to provide employment to poverty-ridden women. Apartna Banerjee’s Project Sukanya is essentially a chain of stores managed by women, selling wares made by them. The mobile outlets are called 'Bou Carts' (daughter-in-law's carts) and are visible at key points in the city.
Women self-help groups in Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum and Burdwan Districts make products like terracotta sculptures, packaged spices and small gift items. Banerjee says the project serves as a platform for liberating women economically, especially those hailing from financially poor backgrounds. Selected women are given training in sales and can choose their work timings from 9.00 a.m. and 9.00 p.m. Gargi, who has a daughter, says she is earning some additional money to give herself and her child a better style of living. Banerjee has patented her project to prevent retail outlets from stealing her idea. She claims that some big brands had approached her, but she refused on the ground that the concept of providing employment to poor women would be lost. The project, which started with just one cart, has now gone up to four carts. Banerjee wants to open such outlets across the state. Bureau Report (with ANI inputs)