New Delhi, March 28 Starting its journey from a small village in Odisha's Balasore district with six artisans five years ago, KalaGhar is not only creating employment opportunities for rural women artisans, but also reviving handicrafts in Odisha.
The craft-based social enterprise has empowered over 200 rural women aged between 19 and 50 years. Now, these women earn Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per day.
This craft form has also become a source of reform for the prisoners lodged at the Baripada jail in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district
KalaGhar works like an e-commerce platform, inspired by the concept of 'arte util', meaning 'useful art' in Spanish. KalaGhar aims to improve the financial capacity of the Sabai artisans in Mayurbhanj district, which homes 45 tribal communities. They not only help the artisans develop the products, but also assist them to understand design and trends.
From creating urban tastes and preferences and at the same time retaining the Indian art form's history and legacy, KalaGhar works with various grass-roots level artists, NGOs and self-help groups and assist them in understanding minimalistic and contemporary designs.
Covering over 10-15 villages in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts in Odisha, the initiative has been ensuring social and economic empowerment for women by complementing their skills and art of embellishment, and by adding new freshness to the art through training.
Started in July 2016 by sisters Megha and Shipra Agarwal
( With inputs from IANS )
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