Nagpur: In Indian society, carpentry is a male-dominated occupation. It is common to find males working in the field of carpentry and selling furniture. However, a woman from the city of Nagpur is breaking stereotypes with her dedication to carpentry. She is famously known as Preeti Carpenter in her locality; let’s delve into her story to find out what makes her outstanding.

Who is Preeti Carpenter?

Preeti Hinge is a resident of Wathoda village of Nagpur. She runs a carpentry workshop in the village with the name Jai Shri Ganesh Furniture Mart. Her husband works as a driver. The couple has three daughters. Preeti grew up watching her father develop new furniture designs, and this prompted her to take up the same occupation. 

First wooden cupboard

Preeti Hinge was 20 years old when she made her first wooden cupboard. She shares that she received immense support from her father when she expressed her desire to work as carpenter like him. The villagers were taken by surprise when they saw her working at the workshop instead of her father. But the feeling of awe, inspired Preeti to continue working harder.  Some people passed insensitive remarks about her occupation; however, she did not pay heed to them. Gradually, she became efficient in making furniture like tables, chairs, beds, and cupboards etc. 

Working after marriage

The financial condition of her household was not well-off after marriage. Her husband’s earnings could not make the ends meet. After giving birth to her first child, Preeti Hinge began working as a carpenter again. She shares that she purchased a shop nine years ago with a monthly rent of Rs 8000, and the income from the furniture work easily covers the expenses. 

Skill India Mission

Gradually Preeti Hinge gained popularity in her locality as Preeti Carpenter Didi. Remarkably, within the distance of 100 km, she stands as the only female carpenter. Her success has become a source of inspiration for many girls in the village. 

Preeti mentions that she took part in a 15-day workshop at the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development as part of the Skill India Mission launched by the Government of India. Through this program, Preeti acquired valuable knowledge about carpentry which allowed her to hone her skills.