Peddapalli Emerges As Rakhi Manufacturing Hub

KARIMNAGAR: Few know that many of the colourful rakhis worn during the festival, on August 9 this year, are made in Peddapalli, in the erstwhile Karimnagar district.

Founded in 2015 by Yellandula Krishnamurthy, SRR Rakhi Centre is home to the only large-scale rakhi manufacturing unit in South India. The unit produces more than 30,000 types of rakhis, priced from Rs 1 to Rs 1,000, offering a wide range of designs at affordable prices.

Until about 11 years ago, traders in the region depended on rakhis from Kolkata and Rajasthan, often paying high prices. The establishment of the unit changed this, making diverse rakhis available locally at low cost while creating employment for thousands of women, regardless of their educational background.

The business now supplies rakhis to 25 states, including Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Haryana and Gujarat. Even merchants from West Bengal, traditionally a hub for rakhi production, are now sourcing from Peddapalli. The unit also exports to eight countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

This rakhi manufacturing unit has not only made rakhis more accessible and affordable but has also become a source of pride and employment for the local women. From a small women-led enterprise, the unit has grown into a major industry, providing permanent jobs to more than 150 women and indirect employment to over 2,500 others who make rakhis from home. Many of these women, who earlier rolled beedis, have shifted to this healthier and more profitable work.

With local production, rakhi prices have dropped sharply — designs that once cost Rs10 are now available for Rs 2. “Our unit has led to a 70 per cent drop in prices, making beautiful rakhis affordable for everyone,” Krishnamurthy told Deccan Chronicle. “It’s a joy to see how we have grown from selling rakhis brought from Kolkata to supplying 25 states.

“We provide steady employment for over 3,000 women for eight months a year. We plan to offer free training in January and February and aim to supply to all 29 states.”

Workers say the unit has transformed their lives. They now earn Rs 300 to Rs 500 a day while staying close to their families. Unlike beedi work, rakhi-making does not create health problems, and the women feel a sense of independence and pride.