Candle making industry empowers women in Tripura

Agartala (Tripura) [India], Nov 9 (ANI): Candle making industry in Tripura is generating employment opportunities for women, who are in turn contributing towards the upliftment of their families and the society at large.

Skill and entrepreneurship development in India's Northeast region over the recent years is helping the states, progress.

Tripura is fast becoming a business hub of many such entrepreneurial activities.

Candle making business in the state has opened new avenues for the state's women and helping boost the local economy. Many businessmen in the state are running candle production units and have employed several others.

"Eight to ten people work here every day and all those engaged in manufacturing are women. They, after completing their household chores, work here and earn well. Since there aren't many power cuts in the region, so the demand of candles is mainly for worshiping purposes," said the owner of a candle production unit Tapan Saha.

Tapan Saha added that the highest demand for candles comes during the time of 'Kali Puja.'

Meanwhile, the women workers say that once they finish their household chores, they did not have much to do and that this way they could earn extra bucks for their families.

"For the last 17 years I am working in this field and it is in addition to my husband's income. This helps with my family expenses, including the education of my children," exclaimed a candle worker Sampa Paul.

Most of the workers are not professionally trained but are working hard to thrive towards attaining excellence in their work.

This is also promoting Prime Minister's Skill India campaign which is thriving to train over 40 crore (400 million) people in India in different skills by 2022. It includes various initiatives of the government like "National Skill Development Mission", "National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015", "Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)" and the "Skill Loan scheme". (ANI)