Tagore Cooperative in Ranga Belia in the Sundarbans has emerged as a centre for hand-batik, handloom and tailoring activities, providing livelihood opportunities to women in the region. The products are largely handmade and reflect traditional craft practices adapted to the local context.
The cooperative has been working since 1976 with the objective of promoting women’s economic self-reliance in the Sundarbans, where employment opportunities outside agriculture and traditional livelihoods remain limited. According to the cooperative, around 30,000 women have received various forms of training over the years. At present, more than 100 women are engaged with the cooperative, including several long-serving members.

The enterprise functions as an industrial cooperative. However, its present administrative status has reportedly affected its access to certain government benefits and institutional support. While government audits have been conducted, the cooperative stated that it has not received direct beneficiary assistance from the State or Central Government. It has also not availed itself of loans, despite having prepared proposals, citing concerns among some of its elderly members regarding financial risk.
The cooperative recorded its highest annual sales at around ₹80 lakh in its best-performing year. Its sales subsequently declined to approximately ₹65 lakh two years ago and ₹57 lakh in the last financial year. The cooperative attributes the decline to factors including the relatively higher price of handmade products, competition and its dependence on tourism for sales.

Tourism plays an important role in sustaining the craft-based livelihoods of the region. The cooperative observed that while tourist footfall may have increased, the purchasing pattern of visitors has changed, with fewer tourists making significant purchases of local handicrafts. It has called for promotion of responsible and sustainable tourism that generates greater economic benefits for local communities.

The cooperative also has market linkages beyond the Sundarbans, including Delhi, and has associations with institutions and organisations such as the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Amar Kutir. Through its craft activities and training programmes, the cooperative continues to contribute to livelihood generation and women’s empowerment in the Sundarbans.

 

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