Page 6 - EDII Report 121
P. 6

EDII REPORTS 121                                                                                                                                                                         EDII REPORTS 121






                         When Women Weave Their own

                         Entrepreneurial Trajectory....



                      HSBC - Project HandMade in India (HMI)
                      This unique project is aimed at reviving the rich legacy of Indian Handloom industry. HMI, an
                      HSBC's  CSR  initiative,  implemented  by  EDII,  ensures  capacity  building  of  weavers  to  help
                      them function as adept entrepreneurs. At EDII, on 6th March, 2023, 30 stalls were put up by                                                                               Ms.  Shailaja  Punit  Soni,
                      weavers enrolled under the project HandMade in India, representing 6 Clusters from across the                                                                             Subject  Matter  Expert  and
                      country. The clusters represented included, Kamrup, Bargarh, Bhuj, Surendranagar, Maheshwar,                                                                              Master  weaver  from  Bhuj
                      Salem.                                                                                                                                                                    Cluster  demonstrated  the
                                                                                                                                                                                                making  of  Natural  Dyes.
                      The Mega Exhibition was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Smt. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson,
                      National Commission of Women in the presence of Special Guests, Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary
                      General  Association  of  Indian  Universities;  Mr.  Romit  Sen,  Sr.  Vice  President  –  Corporate            Given the nontoxic nature of Natural dyes EDII has promoted Natural dyeing or eco friendly
                      Sustainability, HSBC; Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII and Dr. Raman Gujral, Director of                 colours  in  the  Clusters.  The  weavers  were  initially  hesitant  to  work  with  organic  colours
                      Projects – Corporates. The dignitaries visited all the stalls and interacted with the weavers to                 because  of  the  time  taking  process  involved  to  reach  results.  After  rounds  of
                      learn as to how the intervention had improved their prospects. Mr. Romit Sen , who has been                      trainings and exposure visits, weavers from Bhuj and Surendranagar have started working
                      closely  connected  with  the  project,  expressed  his  happiness  over  the  elevated  technical               with natural colours. They also realised that the market for organic colours is huge, and have
                      knowledge of the weavers. He also appreciated their presence on social media platforms for a                     switched completely to this form of dyeing.   In Kamrup cluster also, a few weavers have
                      better reach and their familiarisation with modern ways of doing business, including the online                  adopted the organic dyeing process. To promote and create awareness, a Natural Dyeing
                      modes of payment.                                                                                                Catalogue has been created on the Bhuj Cluster.


                      The HandMade in India Corporate Film was also released on this event by Chief Guest Ms. Rekha
                                                                                                                                                                              Rajiben,  from  Kotay  village,  now  based  in
                      Sharma.
                                                                                                                                                                              Awadhnagar  village,  Kutch,  hails  from  the
                                                                                                                                                                              traditional  weavers’  community.  After  her
                                                                                                                                                                              husband's  untimely  demise,  she  joined  Khamir,
                                                                                                                                                                              an  NGO  devoted  to  plastic  recycling  and
                                                                                                                                                                              upcycling,  started  weaving  textiles  to  generate
                                                                                                                                                                              income.  She  got  trained  in  plastic  weaving  and
                                                                                                                                                                              floated her own unit. Rajiben grew from strength
                                                                                                                                                                              to  strength  and  even  travelled  to  London  for
                                                                                                                                                                              exhibiting her plastic weaving skills and upcycled
                                                                                                                                                                              products which received a lot of praise. HMI, at
                                                                                                                                        every  stage,  handheld  Rajiben.  For  her  marketing  and  promotion  requirements,  she  was
                                                                                                                                        connected to the Kaarigar Clinic.


                                                                                                                                        Today, Rajiben works with 30 women from Bhuj, Bhujodi, Kukma, Lakhond and Madhapar
                                                                                                                                        villages  of  Bhuj  taluka  to  create  upcycled  plastic  bags,  pouches,  trays,  cases  and  other
                                                                                                                                        products.  HMI  is  closely  connected  with  Rajiben  and  has  mentored  her  at  every
                                                                                                                                        stage.   Rajiben was   recently awarded the President Award – 'Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman
                                                                                                                                        2023'  for  her  outstanding  work  under  Biodegradable  and  plastic  waste  management
                                                                                                                                        category. Rajiben, is one of the first weavers to switch from regular yarn to plastic. Her hard
         Women artisans under the Project, HandMade in India, trained by EDII, were recognized for their exceptional growth             work and curiosity has generated commendable results.




        06                                                                                                                                                                                                          07
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11