From Homemakers to Changemakers: Transforming Hardoi

In a world where women's empowerment takes center stage, our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words at this year's G20 summit resonate profoundly: "When women prosper, the world prospers."?

These words summarise the essence of a remarkable transformation happening in Hardoi Village, the heart of Uttar Pradesh, India, where Jaipur Rugs Foundation and the Samuday by HCLFoundation teamed up to bring sustainable livelihood opportunities, growth, and community development by increasing Hardoi’s annual income by Rs. 6 crores.

Implementation of WELL?

The journey began with a comprehensive feasibility study of 5,632 women to understand their needs and aspirations. This led to the implementation of WELL (Women Empowerment through Livelihoods and Leadership Development) to provide a sustainable income source for those with irregular earnings.

The initial WELL stage focused on a six-month Hand Knotted Carpet Weaving training program, empowering women as skilled weavers while providing a monthly stipend for support. Starting small, we expanded to multiple villages, targeting women without stable incomes or no income at all. The goal was to train them as skilled weavers, boosting their self-esteem and financial contributions to their families.

In 3 years, we trained 2,337 women. Now, the majority earn between Rs. 3,000 and well over Rs. 17,000 per month, a 5x increase from their pre-training earnings, increasing the total annual income of Hardoi District by Rs. 6 crores.

Pratibha ji, from Atiya Village, began weaving with us two years ago. She went from having no income to earning Rs. 15,000 - Rs. 16,000 per month, showcasing her remarkable journey.

Bunkar Sakhi: From Weavers to Leaders (Grassroot Leadership Program)

Nurturing women leaders who, in turn, empowered other women to become self-dependent was the primary focus of developing Bunkar Sakhi

"Bunkar Sakhi," meaning "Weaver's Friend," is our community engagement program aimed at empowering women and nurturing their leadership skills. Selected from the weaver community, these Bunkar Sakhis serve as a frontline team, driving positive change and fostering community growth.

Through this program, we trained 13 experienced women weavers to become supervisors in their villages. These Bunkar Sakhis address weavers' concerns, offer guidance to enhance weaving skills, maintain quality standards, and oversee looms. They are exceptional leaders in their communities, combining their love for weaving with their newfound leadership roles.

Access to Social Entitlements

Despite numerous welfare programs by state and central government bodies, they remain underutilized due to rural communities' lack of awareness. The benefits of these services often don’t reach those who need them. To address this, we introduced Artisan Cards linked to national identification (Aadhaar), granting access to government welfare schemes for artisans.?

All our artisans receive their salaries in their respective bank accounts. We took the initiative to open their bank accounts, enabling them to access their funds independently. In Hardoi, our team dedicated efforts to ensuring artisans had their bank accounts opened and knew how to access them.

Eyecare reaches rural doorsteps?

In the rural communities of India, vision problems are often neglected. It is estimated that 60% of the population in these areas do not have access to eye care, and even fewer have access to medical facilities.

In Hardoi, our eye camps with VisionSpring reached approximately 10,726 people across various villages. Within this group, 3,957 individuals were living with prolonged blurry vision. We distributed prescription-based eyeglasses for improved sight and better quality of life.

From loom to showroom: Integrating artisans in the carpet industry

Indian rug weavers were disconnected from the business of their art, unaware of their significant impact. This is where Exposure Visits come into play, a 3-day fun-filled trip organised for our weavers to understand the carpet value chain and touch and feel the final result of their creation.

568 artisans from Hardoi embarked on their first journey beyond their village through exposure visits. From loom to showroom, they witness their creations' journey, enhancing their confidence and fostering improvement.

During exposure visits, they travelled to the Sadwa finishing center in Jaipur. Here, rugs undergo 18 processes before completion, providing valuable insights for improvement and increased efficiency. They also toured the Jaipur Rugs head office and had an open conversation with our founder, Mr. Nand Kishore Chaudhary, to discuss their learnings

The impact of Samuday by HCLFoundation 's initiative in Hardoi cannot be understated. Lives have been transformed, dreams have been realised, and the village is witnessing a newfound hope and empowerment.?