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There are two main sources of paid employment in these villages. Field work, the preparation of the soil for crops, planting, weeding and harvesting of the crops, and work in the many local stone quarries. Rates of pay are very low at 15-20 rupees a day for women and 35-50 rupees for men. It is common for men from these villages to seek labouring work in the cities where they can earn much higher rates of 100-150 rupees a day (IR 80/- = £1) Throughout the district there is chronic underemployment and there is a desperate need for affordable access to educational or industrial establishments that could provide training in a wider range of marketable skills. |
A few women have used loans from their savings group to set up small shops. More frequently women are buying sheep, goats or buffalo as this fits in with the local economic conditions. |  |
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Surplus produce is taken to the market and sold. Unfortunately if the season is good the local price will be very low. Some women have used loans to undertake trading of vegetables to villages that do not have easy access to fresh vegetables. |
Most commercial activities are very small scale, mending ‘chapal’,making shirts and school uniforms and the production of other small domestic items. |  |
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Income generation skills training gives interested women the opportunity to learn how to manufacture and market snacks and other food and domestic items. |
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