Handicraft
As part of its commitment to cultural validation in
rural and tribal areas, AIM for Seva has initiated a project to promote the traditional art forms
of India. Since many of these art forms are being eroded due to increased mechanization and
low wages, our commitment is to ensure that the artisans upholding these traditions are
supported and that the youth are encouraged to carry on the work of their ancestors.
Rural and tribal artisan communities face increasing difficulties in continuing their traditions.
As most artisans are also engaged in agricultural work, they rely heavily upon revenue from
the production of handicrafts during the off-season, and especially during times of drought.
Women do the majority of both agricultural labor and handicraft production in the rural areas.
The daily wages for women artisans are very low, and the money earned from the sale of
their handicrafts stays with the middlemen who employ them.
Sustainability
A key component of the AIM Handicrafts Project is
sustainability, which is assured through the following objectives:
AIM purchases handicrafts directly from the artisans so that there is no middleman involved.
This means that the artisan gets a much higher price for their products and can thus reduce
the hours worked per day. Commensurate income also encourages the youth to carry on the
traditions.
AIM networks the existing networks of artisan cooperatives, non-governmental and
governmental agencies working in the field of handicrafts. As there are already numerous
good programs for supporting rural artisans, AIM coordinates these organizations and
facilitates stronger links between them for optimum utilization of resources.
With the assistance of premiere design institutions of India, AIM coordinates design
enhancement and product upgradation trainings for the artisan communities to ensure wider
marketability of their handicrafts. The key components of these training programs are:
Provision of high quality, natural raw materials
Upgrading the product standards for marketability and durability of the product
Provision of quality equipment to the artisans for optimum production.
AIM provides marketing of the handicrafts on both national and international levels through
exhibitions, corporate sales, website, and wider distribution to retail outlets.
Proceeds generated from the sale of these handicrafts are reinvested in the project for
purchasing more handicrafts and establishing other related programs in areas of
environmental preservation, women's empowerment, and vocational training.
AIM produces educational and promotional materials, (including videos, posters, brochures,
greeting cards, and calendars), which highlight the importance of supporting the indigenous
cultural traditions of India and ecologically sustainable methods of handicraft production.
These educational materials are displayed at all AIM Handicraft exhibitions so that the
distributors and consumers of the handicrafts are well informed of the rich traditions they are
helping to support.
By establishing self-help groups for women artisans and linking them with the micro-credit
programs of AIM for Seva, we assist the women in assuming leadership roles within their
communities in order to have greater control over their environmental conditions. To this
end, the self-help groups also involve reforestation programs so that the women are directly
involved as the caretakers of their natural surroundings and their means of fuel and fodder.
This also impacts the availability of water resources, as reforestation reduces soil erosion and
helps to replenish groundwater supplies.
The training programs of AIM help to resuscitate and strengthen traditional methods of using
natural dyes and fibers in the manufacturing of handicrafts. This not only maintains healthy
environmental conditions, but also provides a livelihood for villagers who can be trained to
grow and collect plant materials used for natural dyes.
Additional jobs will be created for finishing, labeling, and packaging of the handicrafts.
Marketing
A key component of the AIM Handicrafts Project is to
provide direct international marketing for artisan communities, so that the maximum revenue
can be earned and channeled back into need-based projects for these communities. Special
emphasis is placed on ensuring the highest quality standards for all products, as this will
enable a greater earning potential for the artisans. As the project involves a broad-based
grassroots network, the product range includes numerous tribal handicrafts that have not been
available on the international market.
The handicraft items marketed by AIM for Seva cover a wide variety of traditions, including:
Blockprinted, embroidered, and mirrorwork bedspreads, tapestries and cushion covers
Paintings from various tribal regions of India, on paper, palm leaf, and cloth
Bamboo products including musical instruments, baskets, and table mats
Jewelry in tribal designs with metal and semi-precious stones
Handwoven carpets, shawls, and stoles from Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, and Andhra
Pradesh
Handspun (Khadi) products including scarves, shawls, blouses, sweaters, caps, and
carpets
Handmade paper products including greeting cards, stationary, and gift bags
Quilted and embroidered garments including jackets, blouses, and vests
Shoulder bags with tie/dye, embroidery, and blockprinting
Copper wind chimes
Patchwork curtains on organdi fabric
Dining sets (tablecloth, placemats, napkins, table runner) with blockprint, embroidery
beadwork, and mirrorwork)
Purses and pouches with mirror work and embroidery
Objectives
The project aims to meet the following objectives during the year 2003:
Increase in research, documentation, and networking activities to cover more regions
of India.
Establish stronger affiliations with governmental and non-governmental agencies,
particularly the Ministries of Tribal Welfare, Textiles, Health, and Forestry.
Submit proposals and procure funds from the governmental departments under their
various programs that are suitable to the AIM project.
Conduct design enhancement and product upgradation seminars in selected artisan
communities.
Establish women's self-help groups and link these with AIM for Seva's micro-credit
programs.
Initiate programs to reintroduce the use of natural dyes in weaving and blockprinting
communities of Mana, Uttaranchal and Kutch, Gujarat.
Employ small-scale units of tailors and women workers in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to do
the product finishing, labeling, and packaging of the handicrafts.
Conduct exhibitions for the sale of these handicrafts in the U.S. during summer/fall
2003.
Activity Summary
(Links to state names in bold provide more details about that particular project; links in italic
only provide information about other projects in the state.)
Handicrafts
Under Sevya, the handicrafts program of AIM works with artisans from rural and slum
regions of India to preserve their art traditions and enable them to earn a sustainable
livelihood. Sevya purchases handicrafts directly from the artisans and employs women from
urban slums to do the stitching and finishing work. These handicrafts are then sold in the U.S.
and the revenue is brought back to these communities for development programs.
