As the festival of Rakshabandhan approaches, the demand for handmade Rakhis being prepared by rural women associated with self-help groups in Dehradun has started increasing rapidly. With the help of National Rural Livelihood Mission, women of Raipur, Sahaspur and Doiwala development blocks are not only increasing their income by making Rakhi making as a means of self-employment, but are also taking strong steps towards self-reliance.
In this series, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law Leela Rawat and Alka Rawat of Maldevta area of Raipur development block are making their own identity in the Rakhi business. Under the Nai Disha Mahila Cluster Level Federation (CLF) of Raipur Block, both the women associated with Asha Kiran Self Help Group are together preparing rakhis of attractive designs. This year he has set a target of preparing more than two thousand Rakhis, out of which around 1,500 Rakhis have been prepared so far.
Earned a profit of Rs 25 thousand from 1,200 Rakhis
Leela and Alka told that last year they got better market access with the help of the administration. Both of them prepared about 1,200 Rakhis and sold them directly in the market, which earned them a profit of about Rs 25,000. After increasing enthusiasm, this year he has set a target of further expanding the Rakhi business.
Left private job and started self-employment with mother-in-law
Alka Rawat left her private job last year and chose the path of self-employment with her mother-in-law Leela. Both of them have started a shop named 'Vini Wonders Creation' in Maldevta area. Through this self-employment started with the help of NRLM, she is also doing business of Rakhis along with other handmade and local products. According to Alka, after joining the group she has got better opportunities for income. Besides, she is moving towards empowering herself financially by taking advantage of government welfare schemes.
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo make a splash with Rakhi business in Maldevta, also a strong step towards self-reliance pic.twitter.com/NdRQbOKSIU
— Mohit Saxena (@mohit_famous) August 21, 2026
Orders are also being received from online platforms
The sale of handmade Rakhis is no longer limited to the local market. Orders for Rakhis are also being received from customers through the Instagram platform of 'Winnie Wonders Creation'. Women are preparing the orders received through online medium and delivering them to the customers. Due to this, their business is expanding in the local market as well as the digital market.
Rakhis are being prepared from traditional to modern designs
Attractive Rakhis are being prepared by the women of the group from various materials including wool, crochet, molly thread, ribbon. These include many traditional and modern designs including Bhaiya Dooj, Mahakal, Rudraksh, Nazarbattu. Women themselves are doing the work of designing, printing, packaging and promotion of Rakhis.
Growing business by joining NRLM since 2016
Leela Rawat, President of Asha Kiran Self-Help Group, said that she has been associated with the National Rural Livelihood Mission since 2016. During this period, he got the benefit of various public welfare schemes, which helped in promoting self-employment. He said that every year the women of the group are strengthening their economic condition by taking advantage of government schemes and expanding their business.
Women of Sahaspur and Doiwala are also preparing Rakhis
Along with Raipur, women associated with self-help groups of Sahaspur and Doiwala development blocks are also preparing Rakhis on a large scale. Under the Gayatri Cluster Level Federation of Doiwala development block, about 100 women associated with Vaibhav Lakshmi and Pahadi Bhuli Gram organizations are making rakhis of different designs. These Rakhis are being sold by setting up stalls in various markets of Raiwala and Shyampur.
At the same time, women of Saksham cluster of Sahaspur development block are also preparing Rakhis. Their Rakhis are being displayed at the block level and are also getting good market in Selaqui, Sahaspur and Vikasnagar areas.
Stalls of group women will be set up in major malls of Doon.
Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah said that on the occasion of Rakshabandhan, women associated with self-help groups are preparing various types of attractive Rakhis. Under the Chief Minister Sashakt Bahana Yojana, continuous efforts are being made to provide better self-employment opportunities to women. He told that women associated with CLF of Sahaspur, Raipur and Doiwala development blocks of Dehradun district are preparing high quality Rakhis.
He said that with the aim of providing better market to women, Rakhi stalls will be set up in three-four major malls of Dehradun by the district administration. He appealed to the general public to encourage self-employment by purchasing handmade rakhis and other products prepared by women of self-help groups.
Five stalls will be set up in the Secretariat from 24th to 27th August
Assistant Project Director Anita Panwar said that like last year, this year too the rural women associated with NRLM are making better quality Rakhis available in the market. Women of Sahaspur, Raipur and Doiwala development blocks are getting good market for the sale of Rakhis.
Will exhibit and sell local products
He told that as per the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, five stalls will be set up in Uttarakhand Secretariat from 24 to 27 August under the Chief Minister Sashakt Brahmin Yojana. At these stalls, women of self-help groups will exhibit and sell various types of hill and local products along with Rakhis.
The initiative of these rural women involved in making Rakhi on the occasion of Rakshabandhan is strengthening the picture of women empowerment and local self-employment. A group of women from across the district, including Maldevta's Leela and Alka's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo, are setting a new example of self-reliance by converting their skills into business.