Coloring a Bright Future: Rural Women in Majhgawan empowered through cow dung paint production

Impressive Achievement: Nearly 2350 liters of paint were produced in just four months, generating an income of Rs 4.60 lakh*

SHURTI THAKUR 

Raipur 26 May 2023// Under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park Scheme, various activities are being conducted in the Gauthan of village Majhgawan in the Baikunthpur development block of the Koriya district. One such activity involves the production of natural paint using cow dung. The women associated with the Pragati Self-Help Group are actively engaged in this paint production process. This initiative has brought a wave of prosperity into the lives of these women.

Since February, a unit dedicated to the manufacturing of natural paint from cow dung has been operational, and astonishingly, within a span of just four months, they have successfully produced 2,350 liters of natural paint. Nearly 2,200 liters of this paint have been sold, generating an income of around Rs 4.60 lakh.

In line with the directives of the Chhattisgarh government, this paint is being utilized for coloring purposes in all government offices and schools. It is heartening to see the implementation of this eco-friendly paint, which not only contributes to sustainable practices but also supports the local economy and empowers women in the region.

*Breaking Barriers: Women achieve success with natural paint production*

Smt. Suman Rajwade, the chairperson of the group, stated that the cow dung paint unit has opened up new avenues of self-employment for the women in the group, empowering them to achieve economic stability for themselves and their families. Earlier, the women were engaged in producing vermicompost from cow dung in the Gauthans. However, they have now successfully transitioned into entrepreneurs by manufacturing paint from cow dung under the RIPA. At present, the women in the group are producing about 200 liters of natural paint per day, catering to the demands of the market. The manufactured paint is sold under the brand name "Prakritik Paint" by Gauthans and C-Marts. To ensure the nationwide availability of the product, a partnership has been established with "Khadi India," facilitating its distribution in the national market. This collaborative effort aims to maintain a consistent supply of the product on a larger scale.

*Process of manufacturing natural paint*

The selected women from the group have received training in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on the production of natural paint from cow dung. They were provided with detailed information about the manufacturing process. The process begins by thoroughly blending the cow dung and water mixture in a machine, followed by filtering it through a fine mesh to eliminate any impurities. Afterward, the mixture undergoes bleaching using specific chemicals and goes through a steaming process. As a result, a substance called CMX is obtained, which is further processed into a product known as distemper and emulsion. The paint unit located at RIPA in Majhgawan Gauthan has the flexibility to produce different quantities of paint according to demand. On average, it has a daily production capacity of about 500 liters.