Tribal Women Entrepreneurs: Anita Devi's Pickles & Yashoda Devi's Jewellery Drive Success in Jharkhand

Ranchi: One woman is in the business of tribal jewellery, while the other manufactures various edible items. Though both have different businesses, they share many similarities. On top of that, they have similar stories to tell. Meet Anita Devi from Gumla and Yashoda Devi from Khunti.Anita makes home made pickles using natural products and adds no preservatives. “We prepare everything at our home using traditional and natural methods: delicious pickles, pure Jamun vinegar, natural honey, and medicinal Jamun seed powder. Every product is a blend of taste, health, and authenticity,” she told STOI, adding that production and sales are directly carried out from their shop to customers.A native of Bishunpur block, Anita completed her graduation in 2007. She married a man from a different caste soon after. The decision changed her life for the worst. “I was deserted by all, since it was an inter-caste marriage. Our financial situation was very bad. We were the poorest of the poor, had no jobs, had no place to live, and did not even have proper blankets to protect ourselves from the winter chill. Earlier, it was necessary to think about food only. There was a time when we ate only something in the morning and skipped lunch to make sure, we ate something at night,” she said. It was during this time when Anita borrowed Rs 10,000 locally and formed a self-help group (SHG). Now, her SHG comprises 10 women and makes 14 varieties of pickles, which include mango, amla, jackfruit, mahua, green chillies, red chillies, bamboo, tamarind, and other items. “Pickles are also made of local mushrooms that grow during the rainy season, she said.”The work started in 2014. The families gave no support. Her husband worked here and there and helped her as well. Now, after her business became successful, she bought two tractors for her husband.Initially, she sold her products in the local market, the ‘haat’. The local market was not a daily affair and happened only twice a week. Gradually, her business grew, and later she bought land and built a concrete house.In 2020, she joined Palash, an initiative implemented by Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) under the state rural development. She did not have to look back again.Anita now earns Rs 30 lakh annually. She owns her own pucca house and her children study in good schools. She also bought a car and became a role model for others. Besides, she helps other women to start their own businesses and become successful.Yashoda, a native of Murhu in Khunti, makes tribal jewellery mainly from silver and mixed metals. “It is because of this family profession that I was able to establish myself; otherwise, God knows what would have happened,” she told STOI.Like Anita, Yashoda also runs a SHG in Murhu. Born and raised in the area, she learnt the art of making tribal silver jewellery from her father, which was passed on to him by his forefathers. But that was not enough to run the family. Her father could barely run the family.Yashoda began looking for jobs to support her family after passing her class 10 examination. Sometime later, she was married to a man from Uttar Pradesh. As life got tougher, Yashoda returned home with her husband. In 2011, Yashoda started her family business and formed an SHG. Later, the SHG was associated with JSLPS, and gradually her business grew. She is now settled in Hutar but runs her business from her village.Hasli, Pachua, Kakna, Mandli, and Bajubandh are some tribal jewellery items she manufactures and sells. “The prices range from Rs 250 to Rs 2,500 per item,” Yashoda added.