Women learning bamboo crafts in Khotang

Rajkumar Bhattarai / Khotang, Sept 14 : Women in Bamrang, Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality–3, Khotang are currently learning to make various objects from bamboo.

The women are learning bamboo-crafting in the one-month training being provided by the Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) in association with the International Labour Organisation.

The 30 participants of the training programme, that began on August 27, have begun making racks, vases, baskets and dustbins from bamboo.

“We used to think only men could make such objects. But now, we see that even women can acquire these skills,” local Rojina Rijal told The Rising Nepal. “We have plenty of bamboo here. I am thinking of starting a business after completing this training.”

Another local Prelina Rai was first a trainee herself but has now become a trainer in the programme. She learnt bamboo crafts under trainer Sharmila Lama for 15 days and got so skilled that she now trains others.

She also wants to start a business soon to show the patriarchal society what women can do.

Sanju Khatri Basnet, treasurer of FWEAN’s Khotang unit, said that the objective of the training was to enable women to earn for themselves. She also said that the FWEAN would help market the products made by the women during the training.

Basnet also informed that the best trainees would be taught to weave mats, trays and other more complex items.

The 30 women receiving the training have also received an incentive allowance of Rs. 15,000 each.