In the field of entrepreneurship, women are not lagging behind. They have been making remarkable strides, breaking barriers, and challenging societal norms. Despite facing numerous challenges and gender-based biases, female entrepreneurs continue to rise and shine, leaving a profound impact on the global business landscape.
Ommcom News comes up with an inspiring story of one such woman and how this trailblazing woman has shattered glass ceilings, empowered others, and paved the way for a more inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial world.
Meet Dali Das, who crafts coir, the eco-friendly coconut fibre, into beautiful crafts such as décor pieces, toys, ornaments and more by tying and folding the fibres.
Of late, she has shot to the limelight after she got a work order from Reliance founder Nita Ambani.
Last year, she received a call from the Mumbai-based head office of Reliance and she was asked to make a 5-ft long palm tree from coir for Reliance founder Nita Ambani.
Talking about her journey, Dali who resides at Sakhigopal in Puri, said, “There are thousands of other things in nature’s treasure trove. Nature’s bounty is boundless. Let’s talk about the coconut tree. Coconut water quenches our thirst, its oil nourishes our body and its pulp creates gourmet delicacies. That’s not all. Coconut husk or fibre is used in making mattress, decorative items, bags and ropes.
“After failing to secure a job after completion of graduation, it was coir or coconut fiber that helped me in sustaining my family.
Dali, who hails from Satyabadi, was the eldest child of her parents. After her father’s demise, she had to look after her siblings. “When I failed to secure a job after repeated attempts, I decided to make crafts from coir and run my family. No doubt, the initial days were tough for me to meet the demands of my family from my meagre income. But, hard work pays off. I worked hard which yielded results with orders pouring in from customers gradually.”
Dali, who is now a faculty of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts & also runs a company where she has engaged aurally challenged and speech-impaired individuals.
“It was a heart-whelming moment for me to get a call from Reliance Founder. Later, I came to know they collected my number from the Coir Union of Odisha. Though I had to hand over the project a little earlier, I failed because of my health issues. If everything goes as per the plan, the project will be handed over as soon as possible,” she shares.
Thanks to Dali’s efforts, special-able children Rinku Pradhan and Soumyajit Lenka are becoming self-reliant. They help Dali in making crafts made of coir. “I would be grateful if the government give them an opportunity to showcase their talent. As my income is not good enough I pay them meager amount of money which is not enough for them to lead a quality living.”
By Rashmi Rekha Das
