From Tradition to Progress: Moonj Craft Transforms Rajni Bala’s World

Connecting rural art to the market has increased profits.

Sultanpur’s daughter has carved her identity through handicrafts.

The recognition of Rajni Bala’s hard work has reached several districts.

Government schemes are strengthening the foundation of self-reliance.

Lucknow, March 2026 : Under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh is witnessing a phase of social transformation and new opportunities. Women, through their determination and hard work, are becoming the strong foundation of a self-reliant and developed Uttar Pradesh.

Rajni Bala, a resident of Harkhpur village in Kudwar block of Sultanpur, is a powerful example of this change. By promoting moonj products such as sikahula, bhauka, dauri, dolchi and cups, she has established a distinct identity for herself.

Rajni Bala has studied up to Class 12. She says she inherited the skill of moonj craft from her mother, who also used to make moonj products. Growing up in that environment, Rajni gained practical experience from an early age. With that learning and dedication, she has now become self-reliant by producing a variety of moonj items. Her husband works as a cab driver in a private company in Delhi and fully supports her work. They have two children: their son is studying medicine in Lucknow, while their daughter studies at a school in Sultanpur.

Each moonj product has a different price, but in terms of profit, the business is quite strong. Rajni Bala says she earns an average net profit of around 50% on each product. If the cost of making an item is ₹100, its market price is approximately ₹150. Her business has now gained recognition in other states as well.

Rajni’s biggest and most profitable order so far came from Rajasthan, and to complete it she provided employment to nearly 100 women. In this way, Rajni Bala is not only empowering herself but also connecting other women in the region to livelihoods, setting an example of collective self-reliance.

Rajni Bala says that the District Industries Office has played an important role in supporting the production and marketing of her moonj products. In particular, under the guidance and encouragement of District Deputy Commissioner Ms. Neha Singh, she received opportunities to present her products on larger platforms.

With this support, she has successfully set up stalls and sold her products in Noida, Sultanpur, Lucknow and several nearby districts. With government backing and her own hard work, Rajni Bala has become a strong example of linking local crafts to wider markets and building self-reliance.

Various schemes of the Uttar Pradesh government are strengthening the economic position of women and youth across the state by connecting them to self-employment. At the state level, lakhs of women and young people have been given opportunities to become self-reliant. The impact of these schemes is clearly visible in Sultanpur and many other districts. Youth who once struggled with unemployment are now confidently turning their dreams into reality.

The objective of Yogi government is that more and more women and youth benefit from these schemes and contribute to making the state self-reliant. Different departments are providing guidance and assistance to applicants to keep the process simple and accessible. Through periodic awareness campaigns, people are being encouraged to connect with these schemes.

The inspiring stories of such successful youth and women are not only a source of motivation for others but are also spreading a new light of development and self-reliance across Sultanpur and the entire state of Uttar Pradesh.