Five women building livelihoods from traditional crafts

What Happened

Five women from different parts of India transformed traditional skills into business enterprises that employ and empower others. Gunavathy Chandrasekaran in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, learned quilling after surviving polio and an early marriage, later turning paper scraps into wall art, cards, figurines and jewellery. Her work has involved training more than 2,000 artisans, including women, homemakers, students and children in orphanages; she has also helped some trainees market their products. In 2009, Godavari Satpute in Nashik began making paper lamps at home after her husband lost his job; after facing banking hurdles, she received a small interest-free loan from relatives and later support from BYST, enabling her to grow Godavari Akashkandil. The enterprise now employs other women and generates over Rs 30 lakh in annual revenue, and Satpute has received a Woman Entrepreneur Award. Sobita Tamuli from Telana, Assam, conceived Seuji in 2002 to organize village women for making organic manure and Assamese japis, with the group aiming to eliminate middlemen and retain control over ideation, manufacturing and sales. Pabiben Rabari of Bhadroi village learned embroidery from her mother and joined a Rabari women’s group in 1998; she later developed Hari Jari, a craft technique using machine-applied ready-made elements, producing items like the Pabi Bag and other textiles, and now employs more than 60 women. Anita Gupta founded Bhojpur Mahila Kala Kendra in 1993 to empower women through education and employment training; the organization has trained over 25,000 women in nearly 400 skills and formed around 300 women’s self-help groups, with jewellery produced for government fairs and stores in Delhi, Pune and Mumbai.

Why It Matters

The efforts illustrate how women leverage traditional crafts to create standalone livelihoods and expand economic participation. Collectively, these ventures demonstrate scalable models of training, home-based production, and direct-to-market strategies that reduce dependency on middlemen, increase earnings for participants, and enhance financial independence. The range of crafts and geographic spread also shows a diversification of livelihoods rooted in local skills and community networks.

Background

The stories center on women who used existing skills and local resources to build self-operated enterprises or community-driven businesses. Each case highlights initial barriers—health challenges, financial constraints, or social resistance—and subsequent steps that led to scalable outcomes, including training thousands of beneficiaries, earning revenue, or earning recognition through awards.

Key Facts

• Gunavathy Chandrasekaran: trained over 2,000 artisans; activities include quilling-based wall art, cards, figurines and jewellery; based in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu; awarded by Lions Club and Tamil Nadu government after 2015 appearance at a British Council event.
• Godavari Satpute: started in 2009 in Nashik with paper lamps; received a small interest-free loan from relatives; BYST provided support; business generates over Rs 30 lakh in annual revenue; won a Woman Entrepreneur Award.
• Sobita Tamuli: launched Seuji in Telana, Assam, in 2002 focusing on organic manure and japis; aims to remove middlemen and give control over ideation, manufacturing and sales to the group.
• Pabiben Rabari: developed Hari Jari craft technique; employs over 60 women in Bhadroi village; products include Pabi Bag; received the Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar in 2016.
• Anita Gupta: founded Bhojpur Mahila Kala Kendra in 1993; trained over 25,000 women in nearly 400 skills; formed about 300 women’s self-help groups; jewellery sold at fairs and stores in Delhi, Pune and Mumbai.

What Happens Next

Current information does not specify scheduled next steps for these ventures. Reported outcomes include ongoing employment and training, revenue generation, and recognition through awards, indicating continued growth potential in community-driven female entrepreneurship.