Mumbai, September 3: In the Jagdishpur block of Bhagalpur district, Shabnam has turned her traditional weaving skills into a thriving business, setting a new standard for self-reliance. Once dependent on moneylenders for silk threads to weave sarees, she is now recognized as ‘Bunkar Didi’ and earns over 1 million rupees annually from her craft.
As a member of the Samaj Jeevika Self-Help Group, Shabnam’s family has long been involved in weaving silk fabrics. Previously, about 15 weaver families in her village relied on moneylenders for threads, earning only 50 to 60 rupees per meter of fabric. Their monthly income barely reached 6,000 to 7,000 rupees. Joining Jeevika has significantly transformed Shabnam’s life.
She united the 15 weaver families to form the Prachi Jeevika Women’s Silk Producers Group. With financial assistance of 495,000 rupees from the Nayi Udaan Jeevika Women’s Federation, the group gained the ability to purchase threads directly from the market and sell their finished products independently. Now, Shabnam buys threads, weaves silk sarees, and sells them to local shopkeepers, wholesalers, and at various fairs.
Shabnam explained that creating a silk saree requires about 500 grams of thread, costing approximately 3,200 rupees. The weaving process costs around 650 rupees, with an additional 100 rupees for finishing. Thus, the total cost of a saree is about 4,000 rupees, and she sells them for 4,500 to 5,000 rupees, earning a profit of 500 to 1,000 rupees per saree.
Her specialty lies not only in weaving sarees but also in connecting other women weavers in her village to the market. She purchases sarees made by all 15 families and sells them at stalls in various cities during fairs and events. With Jeevika’s support, she has participated in numerous state and national fairs, including the Khadi Festival in Ranchi, Bihar Sarso Mela in Patna, Surajkund Mela in Faridabad, IITF in New Delhi, and others, generating sales of 3.26 million rupees and a profit of 481,000 rupees. At times, she sells up to 100 sarees in a single event.
Her business is steadily growing in open markets, with demand for her sarees not just from local wholesalers in Bhagalpur but also from other markets across the country. Additionally, she received an order for 50 sarees from the Shilpgram Women Producer Company Limited in Darbhanga. Shabnam also crafts dupattas and other silk garments. Her venture has become a source of income not only for her family but also a means of employment for other women weavers in her village. Shabnam’s journey illustrates that with the right organization, capital, and market access, rural women can emerge as successful entrepreneurs.
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