The Beti Zindabad Bakery was established in the Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh, India in 2017. It employs survivors of human trafficking and won the 2017 Nari Shakti Puraskar.

Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Nari Shakti Puruskar to Beti Zindabad Bakery, on International Women’s Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan

History

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The Beti Zindabad Bakery was established in the village of Kansabel in the Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh in 2017.[1] It employs people who have survived human trafficking. Founded by a District Collector, the bakery is the only one in the village and sells cakes and cookies.[2] The employees, women between the ages of 15 and 22, received training at the Vigyan Ashram in Pune and then opened the bakery with loans from Zilla Vyapar Udyog and the Women and Child Development Department.[3][4] By 2018 the bakery was turning a daily profit and the ten employees could pay off their initial costs at Rs 8800 per month.[3][5] Other costs include rent at Rs 4000 and electricity at Rs 5200 per month, respectively.[4]

Workers from the bakery received the 2017 Nari Shakti Puraskar from the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, in recognition of the project. The prize came with an award of Rs 100,000.[6] The bakery is one of a number of project across India which aims to help people who would otherwise find it hard to find employment.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Sharma, Chirali (31 December 2019). "5 Cafes Around India That Are Run By Acid Attack Victims, The Disabled And HIV Positive Staff". ED Times. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b Ghosh, Madhusree (23 June 2018). "Kolkata to Mumbai: Cafés give acid attack victims, disabled a chance in life". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b Rashmi, Drolia (7 March 2018). "Trafficked survivor of 'Beti Zindabad bakery' bags national award on Women's Day". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b Ghose, Dipankar (12 May 2018). "Trafficking victims script success story with bakery in Chhattisgarh town". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. ^ Drolia, Rashmi (25 December 2017). "Chhattisgarh: Jashpur trafficking survivors now bakers of Christmas cakes". The Times of India.
  6. ^ "International Women's Day: President Kovind honours 39 achievers with 'Nari Shakti Puraskar'". The New Indian Express. IANS. 9 March 2018. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.