Slug: Har Ghar TirangaVaranasi: As Independence Day approaches, Varanasi is gearing up to spread the message of patriotism and women’s empowerment through ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, with around 800 women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) preparing nearly 3 lakh national flags for distribution across the district.Working from their homes and community groups, the women are preparing the tricolours. The initiative is expected to generate an income of around Rs6 lakh to Rs9 lakh for women associated with SHGs, while also providing them an opportunity to become economically self-reliant.Varanasi has 694 gram panchayats across eight development blocks, and the administration is making arrangements to ensure that the national flags reach every gram panchayat. Of the total target, around 2.70 lakh flags will be supplied to the 694 gram panchayats, 25,000 to the Basic Education Department and 5,000 to the District Youth Welfare Department.Officials said the initiative is aimed not only at ensuring the hoisting of the tricolour at homes on August 15 but also at creating livelihood opportunities for rural women.Chief Development Officer Prakhar Kumar Singh said women associated with self-help groups were preparing the flags from their homes, giving them an opportunity to earn while contributing to the national campaign.He said the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign would strengthen patriotic sentiment while providing further impetus to women’s empowerment and the rural economy. Each tricolour prepared by the women, he added, would symbolise not only national pride but also their labour, skill and growing economic independence.Deputy Commissioner, Self Employment, Pawan Kumar Singh said the flags were being prepared strictly according to the prescribed standards. He said the tricolours made by women in Kashi and delivered to households would carry the message of patriotism across the holy city on Independence Day.For the women involved, the campaign is also an emotional connection with the nation.Neha, a member of the Pita Parmeshwar Self-Help Group from Arjunpur village in Sevapuri block, said women were preparing the tricolours together while singing and listening to Vande Mataram. She said the atmosphere remained filled with patriotic fervour during the work.“For us, this is not just a source of employment. It is also an opportunity to express our respect and pride for the nation,” she said.Soni, a member of Kiran SHG from Kesharipur village in Kashi Vidyapeeth block, said women were earning an income by preparing national flags from their homes. She said women in Kashi were working hard to contribute to the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign while moving towards economic self-reliance.Similarly, Khushboo and Mamta of Suraj Self-Help Group from Thatherimanpur village said the campaign was both a symbol of patriotism and a means of strengthening women’s economic empowerment.
