Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Nift trains Sidi women to make souvenirs.

Dayananda Yumlembam, Apr 28, 2011, 06.41am IST
AHMEDABAD: Samina Bajrani, 30, a Sidi woman from Hadmatiya in Junagadh district in the state, is now looking forward to an opportunity for earning a regular income. Bajrani, who had been depending on seasonal incomes till now, has not only learnt how to stitch and sew using machines but also make handbags, purses and similar items.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (Nift) in Gandhinagar has trained 30 women of the Sidi Community in Junagadh to make various kinds of carrybags so that they could be sold as souvenirs to tourists visiting Gir forest, and Somnath temple.
Nift has not only provided the women various designs of such bags but also planned a way to brand crafts made by the Sidi community. The institute has designed a unique, colorful doll that resembles a Sidi girl. One such curly haired dolls will dangle from every product made by these Sidi women.
"The idea was to ensure that while the training helps provide a means of regular income for the Sidi women, it also helps in forest conservation," said the director of Nift Gandhinagar Sameeta Rajora, who had been a forest conservator in Madhya Pradesh prior to her association with Nift.
Till now, participants have learnt how to make various kinds of bags and the samples of the same will be exhibited at Nift, Gandhinagar, in May.
Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-28/ahmedabad/29482523_1_regular-income-fashion-technology-sidi-community

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