Unsung Heroes Creating Livelihoods In Rural India

The second largest employment provider in India, handloom and handicraft sector is the most neglected and undermined by policy makers. It is only social will of some individuals and organisations, the sector is witnessing a transformation from within. Mohd Mustaquim brings to fore unsung heroes of the sector.

- Mohd Mustaquim

A sense of satisfaction was clearly visible on her face. With an average daily earning of Rs 400 to 600, Laharinbai, 38, was today able to send her 12 year old son Prem and 9 year old daughter Janki to the village school in remote Bajga village in Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh. A transformation from traditional weaving to a skilled artisan, though not very easy, resulted in regular and modest income for her family. 

Belonging to a socially and economically backward community, Lahrinbai came into touch with a local not-for-profit organisation, WomenWeave in the second half of the year 2011. Inherited from her ancestors, earlier she had been doing traditional weaving in the village. After getting training from WomenWeave, she is now a skilled artisan who does weaving at her home. It fetches a modest earning to her. “Today I am able to spend easily on the daily needs of my family,” she says.

WomenWeave, Madhya Pradesh

With an aim to connect maximum number of women from the socially and economically backward communities, to provide them employment and to revive traditional weaving, Sally Holkar founded WomenWeave Charitable Trust in 2003 in Maheshwar district of Madhya Pradesh. As the business grew, the Trust established another training centre in 2009 at the remote Bajag villages in Dindori district of the state. The project has now established good business in both Indian and overseas markets.

Thus, a failing traditional craft is being revived and traditional tribal weavers earn much more than ever before. In 2015, a similar project has been started in far eastern, MP in Balaghat district.