Some women in Siliguri have joined hands to sell an array of products that they make themselves for extra earnings at a time the country is reeling under an economic crisis.

Last week, they met at a community building for an exhibition-cum-sale of their products, which include garments, handicraft, jewellery, food items, handmade candles and colourful clay lamps.

Christened the Rupang Dehi urban haat, the idea was to bring in buyers who can choose from a variety of products at one place and simultaneously create scope for each of the women to earn.

“During the lockdown, I found so many women good at craft but do not find a place to sell their products. This made me float a campaign on social media. The campaign worked and many talented women contacted us. In fact, some left us amazed with the quality of their products, say handmade chocolates, and their dexterity. We drew up a plan under BRISK Educare and Culture, a community I had floated, to take up the task of bringing them together and connect to buyers,” said elocutionist Paramita Dasgupta, who initiated the endeavour.

Paramita, who also teaches at a college, then started contacting the women who “responded spontaneously”.

This made her plan “Rupang Dehi” on October 10 and 11. A community hall was chosen and participants were asked to come with their products for display and sale.

“Each of those who participated showcased displayed and sold different products. It had the real essence of a ‘haat’ (a village market) and we could get a good number of buyers,” added Paramita.

The response of buyers, who came to know about the haat from social media, has bolstered the confidence of the women, she added. “We want to continue the initiative,” Paramita signed off.