Ajmer (Rajasthan) [India], Mar 14 : The bid by the states to combat the use of plastic is not only beneficial for the environment but has also brought favourable outcome to many women providing them with job opportunities, especially in rural belts.
These efforts to put a ban on plastic has helped many women of Kishangarh town located in Ajmer, Rajasthan, making them financially stronger.
Earlier, despite working for hours, women in Dungri Mohalla of Kishangarh could only manage to get a minimum of the amount as their daily wage.
The increase in the demand for cloth material bags in the market has led the women in the state with increased job opportunities.
For the last around five years, women in Kishangarh Mohalla have regularly been getting the work of sewing cloth bags unlike the uncertainty of the daily wage work.
The increased demands made many businesspersons get rags and waste cloth from Surat textile industries in Gujarat and outsource work to these women to sew bags.
Offered Rs 15 for one kilo of cloth bags, these women said that even though they can earn a maximum Rs 200 in a day, they are happy with this alternative source of income as now they can work from home and look after their families as well.
"In the winter season, we get a lot of home-based work like tailoring, embroidering, peeling garlic and peas, chopping vegetables and packing etc., but it is the sewing of cloth bags that comes to us on a regular basis irrespective of the season," shared 35-year-old Manju Regar, who sews cloth bags as per her convenience and on an average earns Rs 100 per day.
Women find this work not only convenient but dignified as compared to the work they used to do as a daily wage labourer and domestic help. This way they are able to support their families economically without compromising with their health and self-respect.
They do understand that the rate is low as compared to the work they do but the fact that they are able to do it from their home compensates it for them. They also believe that since the future has to be plastic-free, the demand for cloth bags will definitely increase, raising their chances of getting more regular employment.
65-year-old Achuki Bai has worked hard her entire life but has never got rewarded for the same, but not just the money, sewing cloth also seemed satisfying.
The other woman family members of Geeta Manoharpuriya, who stays in the same colony and works with a non-government organisation are involved in the work of sewing cloth bags.
She shares that women enjoy this work because of the freedom it offers them -- they can work without any interruption, deadline and without any negative impact on their health. They don't even require any special training for the same.
The ban on plastic bags has certainly created new work opportunities for women based on their skills. Since the government is taking time to ban single-use plastic all across the country, this time can be well utilised exploring alternatives to plastic and building skills of such women.
This will not only ensure that we are well-prepared to effectively replace plastic with environment-friendly options but will further strengthen the role of women in the informal economy.