“Desi Rasna” is Chhattisgarh’s first health enhancer juice from Pitora
Durg / December 2021/ If we go back to our old days, the chocolates and cold drinks used to travel from metro city to local shop. But today the government scheme has changed this perception. The women of Pitora Jai Maa Laxmi Self Help Group has started a chocolate cookie business in village. Colourful and mouth watering delicious cookies are being cooked by the women of self-help group. Chairman of Jai Maa Laxmi Self Help Group, Smt. Sulochana Ratre said that 10 women are working in her group and making 3 kgs of chocolate cookies per day. Each chocolate cookie is dispatched to the shopkeepers by the self-help group at the rate of only 4 rupees., from which the shopkeepers are also making a profit of 1 rupees by selling it for 5 rupees. The government’s Bihan Bazaar plan is providing suitable markets for women. This plan has made the women part of innovations.
The story behind choosing chocolate cookies- Smt. Sulochana Ratre said that a stall of artificial jewellery was set up by her last Year in Bihan Bazaar Durg. The artifical jwellery stall recived less response as compared to food stalls. Then one day she met Smt Pooja, trainer of the women’s self-help group in her gram panchayat, the trainer provided her information about bakery related products such as cakes and cookies. Savitri Yadav, In-charge of women selfhelp group also motivated Jai Maa laxmi group for this. Smt. Sulochana thought that chocolate is liked by people of all ages, keeping this in mind, whole group started this initiative. Today, cookies like white pond chocolate and dark chocolate are being cooked by the group and they are also deciding to produce different varieties of cookies. At present, 300 to 400 cookies are being prepared daily by the group. Which is supplied to daily needs shops and bakery in Kodia, Medesra and Murmunda besides Bihan Bazar in various districts
Huge demand of cookies in birthday party and marriage/engagements events– Sulochana said that apart from local shops and bakery, they receive orders from celebrations like birthdays, engagements and weddings. Since cookies are fresh and tasty, it is being self-promoted by people quickly. Currently dark chocolate is also being used to prevent mood swings so there is a great demand for these cookies and it is also competing with big brands.
People from different sections of the society are also helping the group- People are also supporting local products so its demand is quite good. Sulochana Ratre said that the group is also being assisted by the enlightened people. On the basis of merits, social worker Indrani Nishad has placed a big order to Jai Maa laxmi self-help group for Bihan program in Raipur. Because of hard work of self-help group, the officers of National Rural Livelihood Mission have identified the women group to take advantage of the schemes of governance, which is under process.
Making healthy Desi Rasna and many more- Apart from chocolate cookies, women of Jai Maa Laxmi self help group are producing desi sharbat or juice also known as “Desi Rasna”. Shrimati Hemlata Patre, an associate worker of group, said that the juice made by them is chemical free and healthy. Only natural products and glucose are used in this juice. She said that “Desi Rasna” is the best drinking product for all seasons. Apart from this, the women of the group also make artificial jewellery, candles, washing powder, phenyl and chandelier by makaram thread.
