Single woman Dipa runs exemplary bag industry

By Kokila Dhakal, Ilam, Nov.24: A single mother of a one-month-old baby, Dipa Acharya Dhakal, was crying for the responsibility of making the child's future beautiful when her husband passed away 18 years ago. But now her cries turned into reality. She has established herself as a successful bag producer.

Her husband Bhanubhakta Dhakal died of snakebite in Namthala of present-day Deumai Municipality 18 years ago. She was a new mother when the tragedy occurred.  

Dipa now lives in Ilam Municipality-9 with her 18-year-old child.

Dipa started a bag business as she could not find any other options for the earnings 

It was very difficult for Dipa to raise her son alone. "In order to erase my own pain I came from the village to the district headquarters of Ilam and tried to put ointment on the pain of women who were single like me," Dipa said.

According to her, a single women's group was formed for human rights to organise single women for the solution to the problems they were facing. 

“While working on it for many years, I had to raise financial resources and started the bag business,” she recalled her past days.

Dipa said she earned little amount for her survival from pickle business till the outbreak of COVID-19. She said the pickle business closed and she started a bag business. She started sewing bags after she got an opportunity to attend training. "I also invested a little amount in the industry. It has reached about 1.7 million rupees now," she added.

Entrepreneur Dipa said that the income from the business was enough to educate her son and run the household expenses. Five other women have also become skilled in sewing bags in her industry. 

"The bags we produce are stronger and do not deteriorate for a long time. It is the reason we also have enough demands," she said. She produces hand purses, hand bags, mobile bags, pencil purses, vegetable bags etc. which cost Rs. Rs.100 to Rs.200 per piece in her industry. 

"We provide training to the workers besides producing bags," She said, adding that she herself provides basic and advanced training to the workers in her industry. This year, the authorities in Ilam municipality also requested time for training. 

Dipa said being skilled by learning is one thing,  if you learn skills and run a business, no one faces loss. Dipa has now six sewing machines in her industry purchased from a grant of Rs. 200,000 received from the Ministry of Social Development of Koshi Province. 

Other machines are needed to make better quality bags. Now, if we can bring those machines, we can make new models and quality wagons that have come to the market from outside. "I am engaged in that effort," she said.

Also, the commercial production of bags in Ilam is very low. The registered business is Yadu Bag Production and Training Centre. 

Dipa, who is self-employed, is also a dynamic leader in the district for those who want to become entrepreneurs.

Dipa is now satisfied with the progress of her industry.