Bhu: Sattva to source products made by rural women

As 'Bhu:sattva', the organic textile division of Ahmedabad-based organic foods manufacturing company Rising Tradelink Ltd (RTL), plans to come up with its new range of organic home furnishings and spa products in a year's time, the company has decided to source the entire product range from more than 10,000 women from across Gujarat.

Rising Tradelink has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company (GLPC) to associate with around 10,000 women across Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Surrendranagar regions of the state over the next five years and involve them in the production process of organic fabric.

GLPC which is an implementing agency of the State of Gujarat for Livelihood Mission, named as Mission Mangalam, under the National Livelihood Mission of Ministry of Rural Development, government of India.

Jainam Kumarpal, managing director, Bhu: Sattva said, "We have already started work in the Surrendranagar district and plan to scale it up soon. We will provide the raw material and infrastructure required for making organic fabric and related products, and the net investment from our side would be to the tune of Rs 40-50 crore." The company would also train these women through artisans and fashion designers from across India.

The project would involve self help groups (SHGs) and each SHG would comprise 10 beneficiaries. “These women would be provided training in different processes of the production of organic garments such as herbal dyeing, block printing, cutting and stitching, embroidery, khadi art and revival of languishing art forms", Kumarpal added.

Rising Tradelink will buy back the entire products range from these women and market it.

He added, "We plan to source the entire requirement for our upcoming organic home furnishings and spa products range from these rural women, and expect the revenues from these products to touch Rs 400-500 crore within the next five years."

The company will pay Rs 100-150 per day to each woman craftswoker, taking their average monthly income to the range of Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500.