Women in Odisha’s Keonjhar use paper waste to make papier-mache craft, achieve self-reliance
Around 70 women in Odisha’s Keonjhar district are keeping the ancient papier-mache craft alive by utilising paper waste. These collective efforts have also resulted in these women eking out their livelihoods as the products they make are highly marketable.
Ashis Senapati 9 March 2023 1:02 PM GMT
Odisha’s papier mache craft is centuries old. All photos by Harihar Sutar.
Till four years ago, Kabita Behera had no means to earn a living and was dependent entirely on her husband’s earnings for survival. However, ever since she joined a self-help group [SHG] which uses paper waste to make marketable decorative products, she has found a new avenue to supplement her household income.
“My husband is a daily wage labourer and income is erratic. The financial crisis was affecting my two children as well. Today, I can earn enough myself to ensure better food for my family. I easily earn Rs 5,000-Rs 8,000 in a month,” Behera, a resident of Khadipal village in Odisha’s Keonjhar district told Gaon Connection.
Behera is amongst 70 women in the rural pockets of Keonjhar district who use waste materials to make products like wall hangings, flower vases, dolls, and trays which are in much demand both within and outside Odisha.
Odisha’s papier mache craft is centuries old. “This traditional craft has descended down from one generation to the other,” Premalata Sutar, 57-year-old secretary of the Sutar Mahila Papier Mache SHG in Anandapur block, told Gaon Connection.
Papier mache is a popular crafting technique that uses paper and a paste to create a variety of decorative items.
“We formed an SHG consisting of 15 women in 2010 and modified papier mache crafts by making marketable products. Today, around 70 women of our village and the nearby areas have been eking out their livelihoods by making papier mache craft items,” she added.
The secretary further informed that two years back, a bank also provided the SHG a loan of Rs 500,000 under the Mission Shakti women-empowerment programme for rural women.
“Earlier, middlemen used to make profits by selling craft items in big towns and cities after purchasing it from us at throwaway prices. But now Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) - a government run organisation is organising craft fairs in the state as a result of which we directly sell our craft items at good prices. A craft person earns around Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per month by doing craft work,” she added.
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Meanwhile, Bipin Rout, the Joint Chief Executive Officer of ORMAS, informed Gaon Connection that apart from providing banking support and easy loans, the administration also provides training to the women to better their skills.
Women use waste materials to make products like wall hangings, flower vases, dolls, and trays which are in much demand both within and outside Odisha.
“The District Industry Office provides proper training along with loans in collaboration with ORMAS. This helps them in ensuring that they make products which are marketable,” Rout said.
Papier mache is a popular crafting technique that uses paper and a paste to create a variety of decorative items. The method is named after the French term for ‘chewed paper’ which makes sense given the measures needed for any paper mache item involves mashing of the waste paper with the glue.
“To make boiled paste, craft-persons mix white flour and tamarind seed's powder with water. Craft persons collect raw material like old papers, newspapers, and paper covers,” Harihar Sutar, a master craftsmith of Fakirpur village who has trained many women, told Gaon Connection.
