Women in Kajri village of Churchu block, Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand are earning up to ₹70,000–₹80,000 per month through lac bangle production, transforming a region once synonymous with Naxal violence into a growing hub of women-led enterprise. Around 40 women affiliated with local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are driving this shift under the Lakhpati Didi Yojana and the Nari Urja Farmer Producer Company.

From Red Terror to Self-Reliance

Churchu block was for years severely affected by Left-Wing Extremism, with curfew-like silences descending after dusk and the sounds of gunfire a grim routine. Today, according to reports, that atmosphere has given way to the hum of productive enterprise. Women who once had limited economic agency are now running viable micro-businesses, sending their children to private schools and reporting a marked improvement in household living standards.

The women say they have been engaged in lac bangle production for the past seven years, a period that has coincided with a steady rise in both income and social standing within their communities.

Jharkhand's Lac Advantage

Jharkhand is the largest producer of lac in India, and the raw material sourced here finds its way to markets across the country and internationally. Lac is a versatile natural resin used not only in bangle-making but also in cosmetics, jewellery, and pharmaceutical manufacturing — giving the product a broad commercial base.

The bangles crafted in Churchu are now reaching buyers in multiple states. The production process is labour-intensive: lac is melted, shaped using moulds, coloured, sized to fit the wrist, and finished with decorative elements including rhinestones, pearls, glass, and gold or silver accents.

Government Schemes as the Catalyst

The women credit central government support — including training, financial assistance, and grants — as the foundation of their turnaround. Speaking to reporters, members of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that schemes like Lakhpati Kisan Yojana gave them the initial capital and skilling support to launch self-employment ventures.

The Nari Urja Farmer Producer Company has served as the organisational backbone, aggregating the output of individual SHG members and connecting them to wider markets — a model that rural livelihood experts consider critical for sustaining income at scale.

Impact on Families and the Community

Beyond income, the shift has altered household dynamics. Women report greater decision-making authority within their families, and the ability to fund private schooling for children signals a generational dividend. Notably, this income level — averaging ₹70,000 per month — places these women well above the Lakhpati Didi threshold of ₹1 lakh annual income, making them among the scheme's more visible success stories.

As Churchu's story gains wider attention, it offers a replicable template for other conflict-affected districts where women's SHGs and commodity-linked production chains could anchor economic recovery.