A new dawn: The art of Badi-making turns silverline for women entrepreneurship in Keonjhar
A new dawn: The art of Badi-making turns silverline for women entrepreneurship in Keonjhar.
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Badis, the dried and preserved food items usually fried and consumed as crunchy side-dish or as additives in curries throughout India, have a high demand. The art of making Badis brings smile to many household in tribal dominated Keonjhar district as it gives employment to thousands of housewives in Orissa.
Gone are the days when women would prepare Badis only for their home consumption. Today, many women have successfully turned this art of making Badis to commercial use. It of course came as a bog boon top them by adding additional source of employment to supplement and income to their family.
Many families including Ghatna, Harichandanpur and Sadar block in Keonjhar District engaged in this activity and earn their livelihood from Badi making.
Traditionally, the Badis have been prepared by grinding the Udad pulse (split black gram Dal) on a sil-stone. But to produce it for commercial purposes, they use machines for the Badi paste.
Today, the Badis prepared in Keonjhar District gaining popularity all over the country and in different parts of the world. "We are supplying Badis to foreign countries too. The women in the old town of Keonjhar prepare these Badis.
These Badis are made of Udad Dal (split black gram Dal) and various types of spices are mixed in it," and these badis have huge demand in both local and foreign market. Some times we also supply it to foreign market says a local trader in Keonjhar.
However Most of the Badis are marketed by Orissa Rural Marketing Services (ORMS) which also facilitates getting advance from banks to the women entrepreneurs.
For a few years, the people of Keonjhar are commercially preparing the Badis and they are also making it and it helps in their livelihood and promotional activities," says a senior ORMAS official in Keonjhar.
"We are also giving them training to value addition of making Badis in Keonjhar District. More than 200 groups are now engaged in Badi activities, he further added.
Badi is such a food item that tastes very good when it is fried with onion and garlic and being eaten with even overnight cooked rice. It also tastes good if it is made with vegetables.
The Badis are also used in the marriages and fasts. Many believe that the food doesn't taste well without Badis. Many varieties of Badis are prepared by mixing tasty ingredients like Udad dal, pumpkin, almond, cauliflower and various other items and condiments.
Badi added to enhance the taste of dishes. "The Badis are very famous in Keonjhar says a buyer.
On the occasion of Makar Sankranti around ten varieties of Badis are offered to the Baldev, at Baldev Jew temple in Keonjhar district.
