Jaunpur district is witnessing a remarkable tale of rural empowerment through the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Women in self-help groups (SHGs) are no longer just homemakers—they’re savvy producers exporting cow dung lamps and planters to Dubai, backed by a dedicated export firm.
Spanning over 15 groups with 150-300 participants, these women daily process five quintals of cow dung into high-demand products. Scaling to seven quintals soon, each stands to earn about 6,000 rupees monthly at four rupees per lamp, with hassle-free pickups from home.
The mission’s blueprint for self-reliance shines here. As Deputy Self-Employment Officer Jitendra Kumar notes, the export pact secures ongoing markets, turning sporadic earnings into stable livelihoods for NRLM’s ‘sisters’.
Sunidhi’s journey began in 2020, uniting 10 women and leveraging 1.1 lakh government aid. Collective 10-rupee daily savings grew into over three lakhs, powering 15 teams crafting innovative items from gobar.
Usha from Devi SHG adds a personal touch: previously jobless, she accessed 1.25 lakh startup funds for lamp production. Today, her group’s prospects promise 6,000 rupees per member monthly, fostering true autonomy.
This initiative underscores NRLM’s prowess in skill development and market linkage. From local innovation to international shelves, Jaunpur women are scripting a narrative of progress, one dung lamp at a time. Their success signals a scalable path for India’s rural women.