Supporting livelihoods of women artisans in COVID times
May 25, 2021
Jindal Stainless Foundation (JSF), the CSR arm of Jindal Stainless unleashed the second phase of its Golden Grass Weaving Project that was launched in 2018 with the objective of improving the skill sets of the traditional artisans of Antia Village, Jajpur, Odisha. JSF had taken up this initiative in collaboration with Mudra Foundation, a Bhubhaneswar-based organisation that unifies artists from various genres and segments to propagate art and culture. The project aims at the overall training and capacity building of women artisans for producing world-class handicrafts. The items include bags, wine bottle holders, earrings, coasters, lampshades, etc. made out of golden grass, a wild variety of grass that is in abundance in Jajpur area. These products have been showcased and sold at different exhibitions and stores across India, and also in USA, Switzerland, and Japan. A total of 20 ladies have joined the workshop and are earning a living even during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In its second phase, the project is now focusing on increasing the number of new artisans and improving the skills of the existing artisans. It is also tapping international markets for the sale of indigenous handicraft items. To ensure international quality standards and guidance, the project has hired a designer from Paris.
