Balichandrapur: While many complain of no provisions for job opportunities, women of remote villages Balichandrapur block in Jajpur district have been living a life of dignity by selling Odia delicacy, ‘Badi’, thanks to its huge demand.
Around 400 women have been able to eke out a living by making the dried and preserved food item. Interestingly, many of these women are single mothers and support their families.
The earning from this common meal accompaniment has helped make women independent. They do not have to, depend on their husbands for money anymore. This has also become a source of secure healthy income every month with some of them supporting whole family from the earnings.
“Badi making has been my occupation for the last two years. In 2016, we faced a major financial crisis after my husband suffered a paralysis. I then began making badi. Now we earn nearly Rs 10,000 a month,” a woman said.
Similarly, a widow had been reeling from her husband’s sudden death in a road accident. Now, she earns enough to meet her needs by making and selling badi.
Traditionally, the Badis are prepared by grinding the Udad pulses (split black gram dal). Thankfully, the Badi is also gaining popularity in other areas and providing livelihood to the women who were once only limited to household chores.
The training was first imparted to the women by Odisha Livelihood Mission. Under the scheme, women of Self-help groups are trained to make delicious Badi. Later, they sell it in the market and share the profits among themselves.
While, Badi seems to have fuelled a women’s liberation movement in the villages, lack of marketing and advertisement is a bane, on Badi makers. With its popularity, middlemen have begun minting money by purchasing Badi at Rs 250 per kg, however, selling them at Rs 350/- making more than 70% profit.
“We need a proper market price to attract more women to badi making,” said a badi maker from Nalipur village.
“We are focusing on making proper marketing facilities for the Badi makers so that they do not fall prey to brokers and also get their dues on time,” Prasant Padhi, district project manager of the Odisha Livelihood Mission said.
PNN