Rural women create artifacts from quarry waste

Bangalore, June 2 (UNI) The State-owned Mysore Minerals Ltd (MML) today launched 'Roqware', its Corporate Social Responsibility programme aimed at empowering women and making use of quarry waste to create a variety of stone artifacts.

The project paved way for women, including tribals from the backward areas of Chamarajanagar district, to create artifacts such as idols, bowls, pans, flower vases, benches and monuments.

Speaking after the launch, MML Chairman and Managing Director Jija Hari Singh said the project, which had initially selected and trained 27 women, was launched with the dual purpose of helping poor women who had no proper avenues of eking out a decent living and making use of quarry waste at the company quarries. After being trained in Bangalore and Chennai, they had started crafting and polishing marvellous artifacts using industrial machinery to produce items of high standards and export worthy.

Roqware project Chairman B R Umakanth said MML had struck a pact with private granite exporters in the area to encash on the huge demand for stone artifacts and monuments in the global market.

While MML was funding the project, private granite exporters GTP was providing technical services and marketing support. Sumangali Sevashram, an NGO, and JSS Rudseti had taken the responsibility of creating awareness and enlisting beneficiaries.

UNI RS GD GM1853