Lakshmipur packaging industry employs 2,500 people, mostly female
Three crore packets and cartons, worth about Tk5 crore, are produced in the district every month
Highlights
- A kilogram of packets, having 29-30 pieces, sells for Tk35-40
- Cartons are sold for Tk5-10 apiece
- About two crore packets and one crore cartons are made locally on demand
Restaurants, confectioneries, sweets shops, fruits, and shoe stores in 183 markets of Lakshmipur have a demand for crores of what are locally called thonga (packets made of paper) and small cartons, every month, for selling their products.
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About two crore packets and one crore cartons are made locally on demand.
The Tk5-crore-per month packaging industry directly employs 2,500 people, mostly female, in the district.
A kilogram of packets, having 29-30 pieces, sells for Tk35-40, and cartons are sold for Tk5-10 per piece. With this, the estimated market value of three crore packets and cartons is about Tk5 crore.
Entrepreneurs, traders and artisans involved in the packaging industry, and customers of packets and cartons in the district said if the sector gets government support, it can generate more jobs.
Additionally, this industry is making a special contribution by saving the environment. Increasing the use of paper-made packets as well as recycling used papers can protect the environment, environmentalists claimed.
Of the 2,000 families in Shakharipara, all but 20-30 families are directly involved in the packet-making industry. Each of their monthly incomes is more than Tk10,000.
Chinu Rani Shur, Anu Rani Shur, Seema Kar, and Jothi Rani Nandi of the area said at least 1,100 women make packets in their area.
Every woman can make at least 10,000 packets every month. Many families here depend only on women's income, they added.
Shyamal Majumder, a trader of packets, said at least 1.5 crore packets are made and sold in Shakharipara, in the district alone, every month.
Additionally, about 1,000 families are involved in the industry in Paul para of Raipur municipality, Srirampur of Ramganj, Karunanagar of Kamalnagar, Ramgati area in the district. They make 60-70 lakh packets a month.
Entrepreneur Lakshman Dutt said packets are most in demand during the mango season while the rainy season is a bad time for packet-makers.
