Mangloor Village (Kathua) J-K, Nov. 25 : A number of rural women in a Jammu and Kashmir village in Kathua district have gained economic empowerment after learning the art of making bamboo articles.

The difference could be made in the lives of household women here after the government opened a bamboo craft centre, which today enables women learn the craft and make articles out of bamboo.

The purpose is to ensure economic development of the rural women.

"The basic aim of the department is how to connect our surrounding areas, both urban and rural population through craft so that they would also get to develop skills of their own," said Jyoti Slathia, Assistant Director, Handicraft Development Department, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides providing financial support the bamboo craft skills have also added a sense of freedom for the women here, as they can also continue to attend to their households.

"We are very happy that the government got us work sitting at home. We also get some stipend and we come in time and go back in time too. It is a very good work and we should really thank the government for giving us such a centre, " said Neelima Devi, a woman working at the bamboo craft centre.

This government’s initiative has led to about 25 uneducated women work at the craft centre.

Mangloor is a backward village having a high rate of illiteracy among women in the interior of the Kathua district. (ANI)