MP: How Cow-Dung Diyas Are Creating Livelihood Opportunities for Rural Women in Vidisha?
Vidisha: In Vidisha, the 'Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission' is promoting the production of diyas (earthen lamps) made from cow dung, with the aim of creating employment opportunities for rural women. Simultaneously, this initiative encourages an eco-friendly way to celebrate the festival of Diwali.
For the year 2026-27, the district has set a target of producing 35 lakh cow-dung diyas. Under this initiative, women associated with self-help groups and rural families are being encouraged to craft attractive diyas using locally available resources, providing them with an opportunity to earn additional income.
To support this endeavor, the district is equipped with 10 machines and 187 resource centers dedicated to the production of these diyas. So far, 3,27,800 cow-dung diyas have been produced.
The objective of this initiative is to strengthen rural livelihoods by involving women in production and marketing activities. Furthermore, it is expected to promote the use of traditional earthen lamps (diyas) as well as eco-friendly products during Diwali.
The District Panchayat and the Rural Livelihood Mission are making continuous efforts to boost production and connect more rural families with income-generating activities.