Pramila’s Wrought Iron Art Gets a New Direction Through Bihan

Raipur, Dec 2025 : Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission “Bihan,” self-help groups are being formed to empower and make self-reliant women and young girls living in rural areas. Through this initiative, women receive opportunities for financial inclusion, skill development, and strengthening their livelihoods. As a result, many women in the district are writing new success stories today. One such inspiring story is that of Pramila Markam from village Chhote Rajpur in the Baderajpur development block, who has given a new identity to her family’s traditional wrought iron art with the support of Bihan and today earns an annual income of about ₹5.40 lakh.

Pramila is associated with the Pavitra Self-Help Group of village Chhote Rajpur, located 15 km from the Baderajpur headquarters in the remote Kondagaon district. Earlier, her family was primarily dependent on daily wage labor and agriculture-based work. After joining the group, she began creating about 80 different types of artistic products from wrought iron. To take her art beyond the state and to other parts of the country, Bihan provided her with a new platform. She participated in livelihood fairs (Saras Melas) held in Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, Assam, Noida, and several other places, from which she has earned nearly ₹12 lakh so far.

Reflecting the rich culture and traditions of Bastar, Pramila has created more than 1,500 art pieces to date, with a total production value of ₹30 lakh. Out of these, 857 items have been sold through Saras Melas, Saras Galleries, and local markets, generating an income of ₹13 lakh. Recently, at the Saras Mela held in Delhi on September 6, 2025, she sold 496 products and earned ₹3,87,500.

Through her wrought iron art, Pramila is not only strengthening her livelihood but is also playing an important role in taking the culture and traditions of Bastar to a national platform. Expressing her happiness, she said that Bihan helped her expand her wrought iron craft and gave it a new direction. She also expressed her gratitude to the government and administration for the support she received through Bihan.