Bardez: Hema Bugde did not pursue a college education, and she did not even complete her higher secondary schooling, after passing her SSC examinations. However, she transformed her cherished hobby of handicrafts into a thriving profession. What commenced with a modest investment of Rs 3,000 has evolved into a business with an annual turnover of Rs three lakh today.
Hema honed her handicraft skills under the tutelage of Smita Vernekar, a fellow handicraft entrepreneur from Sirsaim, who mentored her in crafting fur dolls. After mastering the craft, Bugde embarked on crafting these dolls independently. Subsequently, she rallied women from various self-help groups in Assonora, and shared her expertise with them. Bugde also assisted the women in availing various schemes offered by the Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd. Many of these women have now initiated their businesses and become the primary breadwinners in their families.
It’s worth noting that Assonora was predominantly linked to the mining industry until court orders abruptly halted these operations, burdening the locals with debt. Hema Bugde visited numerous households in the village, motivating women to take control of their destinies. She went to the extent of lending her own raw materials to women to give them a head start in their businesses. She personally visited households and educated women about the opportunities available in the handicraft business. Over the last decade, Bugde has trained at least a thousand women, many of whom are now training others in various parts of the State.
“Through self-help groups, I have travelled with other women from Kashmir to Kanyakumari for seminars. We have exhibited our crafts in various exhibitions, attracting substantial demand for our products,” she says proudly.
Expanding her already diverse skill set, Bugde also learned the art of spinning handloom textiles and Kunti fabric saris from Shyama Mitra volunteer Isha Sawant. In an impressive feat, she trained approximately 250 women in creating these unique Goan saris, aiding them in establishing their own enterprises. With the support of NABARD, she has now also set up a store selling raw materials necessary for handicrafts.
“Learning is a lifelong journey. I continuously acquire new knowledge and skills. I train other women to make them financially independent. When you train 100 women, at least 50 out of those 100 will go on to train another 100. When women work together, they possess incredible potential to accomplish anything,” says Bugde.
