The livelihood situation in Chhota Udepur area of Vadodara district was rather miserable before 1995. Shroff Foundation reached there in 1995 – 96 and observed two things. One was the vicious circle of loan that the poor would get in with the money lenders and second was the skill that the women there had. They could make beautiful bamboo articles and beautiful bead jewelry.
There were various other factors involved as well. The problem of migration due to lack of livelihood, exploitation they had to face as they were unskilled and illiterate and the younger generation getting caught in this vicious circle of poverty. The socio – economic structures that were designed in a way to ensure that the control over various resources stayed in a few hands was just one of the reasons for the prevailing poverty.
To tackle this situation, we initially started in a small way. A group of women got together and decided to put their skills in making bamboo articles and bead jewelry to better use. Chandaben Shroff and other designers provided them with guidance and other resources that were required were made available. The end result was pieces of art that were contemporary and in fashion. This gave rise to the idea of merchandising these products. The initial results were small in monetary terms but showed encouraging signs. A way was paved and the journey, the change had begun.
SHGs of Women from BPO Families
The project is supported by Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India and funded by District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Vadodara, Gujarat. SHGs are formed by women belonging to Below the Poverty Line families keeping in mind the homogeneity and affinity criteria for selection of members. A key component under the project is the development of an independent sustainable handicraft business run by the local artisans. Currently the business centre is successfully coordinating with internal departments i.e. production unit, design centre & marketing unit. So far 39 SHGs have been associated with handicraft activity. The business centre is steadily progressing, expanding and spreading its arms to bring 750 artisans of 65 SHGs under an umbrella called “Shardadevi Gramodyog Cooperative Society”. The process for registration of co-operative society has been initiated. An independent sustainable handicraft business center with its production, designing, and marketing component is steadily progressing. The production unit at Shroffs Foundation Trust, Kalali is functioning efficiently by coordinating between various departments, the artisans and conducting skill training programs. Kit making, printing, store keeping, tailoring, sampling and quality control are other activities of the production unit. Establishment of independent tailoring unit guided by experts has led to production of various finished products and saving the amount spent on outsourcing for tailoring.
