The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has highlighted how Tagore Cooperative in Ranga Belia, located in the Sundarbans region, has become an important source of employment for women through hand-batik, handloom and tailoring work. The cooperative has trained thousands of women over nearly five decades and currently engages more than 100 artisans in producing traditionally crafted goods.
The organisation operates as an industrial cooperative with a long history of supporting economic self-reliance among women in an area where farming and conventional work remain the primary options outside traditional livelihoods.
The Numbers and Current Position
Since its establishment in 1976, Tagore Cooperative has provided training to roughly 30,000 women across various skill areas. The cooperative’s annual sales have fluctuated in recent years: it achieved peak revenues of approximately ₹80 lakh, but this dropped to around ₹65 lakh two years ago and further declined to ₹57 lakh in the most recent financial year.
Despite being an active enterprise, the cooperative has faced administrative challenges that have limited its eligibility for certain government schemes and support programmes. Although government audits have taken place, the cooperative reports not having received direct government assistance at either state or national level. Members have also been reluctant to take institutional loans, citing worries about financial obligations.
The cooperative’s products reach markets beyond the Sundarbans, including Delhi, and it maintains connections with organisations like the Wildlife Institute of India and Amar Kutir. However, changing visitor behaviour and increased competition have contributed to declining sales. The cooperative notes that while tourist numbers may have grown, the willingness of visitors to purchase handicrafts has weakened.
What This Means for You
If you live in or are linked to the Sundarbans, this shows how traditional crafts remain a viable path for women seeking independent income and skill development, even as market conditions present ongoing challenges. The cooperative’s experience suggests that handmade goods depend heavily on tourism and buyer interest, making market promotion and diversification important for such enterprises. The cooperative has called for better support of sustainable tourism that genuinely benefits local artisan communities rather than simply increasing visitor numbers.