Clay Rudraksha Garlands

• 16 Jan 2025

Why in News? 

Madhya Pradesh has become a leading state for women's empowerment and sustainable craftsmanship with the rising popularity of clay Rudraksha garlands.  

• This is skillfully crafted by women artisans using the soil from the Narmada River.  

Key Points 

• The women's empowerment and sustainable craftsmanship, spearheaded by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB), has not only celebrated local artistry but also opened new avenues of employment for women. 
• As part of MPTB's Safe Tourist Places for Women initiative, women and girls in the Sanchi cluster receive clay art training through the ‘Maati Kala Shilp' scheme. 
  • The training programme emphasizes a balance between preserving traditional clay craft methods and incorporating modern techniques. 
    • Women artisans are taught soil preparation, moulding, drying, finishing, and quality control processes to meet market demands.  
• Over 200 women have been trained in various clay techniques, both fired and unfired, allowing them to produce a diverse range of items, including Sanchi stupas, diyas, ornamental vessels, animal figurines, and toys.  
• The initiative has significantly boosted the livelihood of women in Sanchi, where many now earn a stable monthly income of ₹14,000 to ₹15,000.  
• The artisans have also expanded their reach beyond Sanchi to cities like Bhopal and Jabalpur, receiving recognition and encouragement from various quarters. 
  • A key milestone in their success came when a private hotel chain began ordering approximately 2,000 garlands per month. 
• Currently, the women’s group has scaled production to around 5,000 garlands monthly and continues to explore new market opportunities with the support of MPTB. 

 Narmada River 

 

• About: 
  • The Narmada River (also known as Rewa) serves as a traditional boundary between North and South India. 
  • It is 1,312 km west of its origin from the Amarkantak peak of Maikal mountain. It flows into the Gulf of Khambhat. 
  • It drains a large area in Madhya Pradesh besides some areas in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. 
  • It is a West flowing river of the peninsular region flowing through a rift valley between the Vindhya Range on the north and the Satpura Range on the south. 
• Tributaries: 
  • The predominant tributaries from the right are Hiran, Tendori, Barna, Kolar, Man, Uri, Hatni and Orsang. 
  • The predominant left tributaries are Burner, Banjar, Sher, Shakkar, Dudhi, Tawa, Ganjal, Chhota Tawa, Kundi, Goi, and Karjan. 
• Dams: 
  • The Major dams on the river include Omkareshwar and Maheshwar dams.