Women from the interior sections of Dantewada district, which was formerly famed for deadly Maoist violence, have made a niche for themselves not only as talented labour but also as successful businesspeople. The unit producing ready-made clothing, “Dannex” or Dantewada Next, employs more than 1,000 women.
They originate from remote communities in the district that Maoist conflict cut off from the rest of society. According to a senior official involved in the initiative, it was customary to employ women by training them in a particular technical specialty before hiring them.However, the Chhattisgarh government has adopted a novel strategy and developed industries not only to give women jobs but also to transfer the entire administration to them. The company Dantewada Next, sometimes known as “Dannex,” was founded with this idea.
Bhupesh Baghel, the chief minister, officially opened the first Dannex unit on January 31, 2021, at the Dantewada district’s Haaram village, which is part of the Gidam development block. After Haaram, a total of five Dannex locations have now been created in the same district in Katekalyan, Chhindnar, Barsur, and Kaarli.
In all the units, women have received first training. The official stated that as of right now, 1.2 million garments have been produced at the Dannex facility and shipped out for sale, and that the group has made almost Rs 72 crore from the clothing produced by the rural women. The style and craftsmanship of the ready-to-wear items made in Dantewada is bringing in clients.
The source claimed that as a result, there is a tremendous demand for the goods at several large multinational retailers as well as online shopping portals. Moreover, Dantewada produces clothing that is shipped to other states in the nation and even beyond. The goal is to develop the readymade clothing business into an industrial chain with the help of the district administration. They would be run by self-help organisations (SHGs). Women’s organisations have already begun to move in this way.
One of the beneficiaries claimed that Dannex had also contributed to reversing the conservative and patriarchal view of the society, particularly the tribals who predominate the area.
