On the 15th November 2014, certificates were distributed to 22 women who have successfully completed their training course in the preparation and use of herbal cosmetics. They are now officially recognized as beauticians who offer not only the conventional parlor services, but can also offer advice and consultation for right diet and overall wellness. These women and their parlors will play an important role in promoting hygiene and ecological alternatives in their villages.
The most evident concern for providing a healthy, eco-friendly parlor service has emerged out of the awareness that Indian women with darker skin tones face serious side effects from the utilization of fairness products. Many of the women who have been trained understand the need to source their ingredients locally, through sustainable harvesting practices, and they encourage women’s self confidence that ‘dark is beautiful,’ and that ‘healthy skin is important, not white skin.’ The women have been trained in Ayurveda and can offer the whole range of parlor services – from massage, to facials, haircuts, etc. The success of their enterprise is now in their hands ! This is not just talk about women’s empowerment and sustainable development – but these women have done it, they are now able to own, and manage their own enterprise.
Sustainable Enterprise development in the Auroville Bio-region 