KISHTI

In their own words

Kishti is navigated by Sunanda Gitai, a pioneering women entrepreneur from Jaipur. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked with esteemed companies such as Anokhi, Fabindia, Cottons, and most recently Nila – a CSR project of JCB. Her journey unveiled the pressing need for an organization to bridge gaps within the traditional Indian crafts market. In today's global quest for natural, sustainable, and aesthetic lifestyles, Indian artisans, despite their rich heritage and craftsmanship, are abandoning their traditional vocations due to inadequate earnings and disconnected markets. Middlemen often siphon off the lion's share of profits, exacerbating this issue. Kishti was conceived with a mission to establish a center of excellence. Its vision is to provide a vibrant platform for artistic exchange, innovation, and craftsmanship. By leveraging modern technologies alongside physical platforms, events, exhibitions, seminars, and workshops, Kishti aims to showcase and nurture India's magnificent traditional craftsmanship heritage on a global scale. The idea is to focus towards empowering villages through the development of traditional crafts, which involves leveraging the rich cultural heritage and artisanal skills prevalent in rural communities through the following: Preservation of Cultural Heritage: Supporting traditional crafts helps preserve and promote indigenous cultural practices, passed down through generations. This not only instills pride within communities but also attracts cultural tourism, boosting local economies. Income Generation and Livelihoods: Many rural households depend on traditional crafts for their livelihoods. By enhancing skills, providing market linkages, and improving product quality, artisans can increase their income and improve their standard of living. Skill Development and Training: Offering training programs and workshops in traditional crafts enhances the skills of artisans. This empowers them to produce high-quality, marketable products that appeal to domestic and international consumers. Market Access and Fair Trade: Facilitating access to fair trade practices and ethical market channels ensures that artisans receive fair compensation for their work. This eliminates exploitative middlemen and increases the share of profits that reach the artisans. Entrepreneurship and Empowerment: Encouraging entrepreneurial spirit among artisans helps them establish their own businesses or cooperatives. This empowers them economically and fosters leadership within the community. Diversification of Income Sources: Developing traditional crafts alongside agriculture diversifies income sources in rural areas, making communities more resilient to economic fluctuations and climate-related challenges. Women’s Empowerment: Most of the traditional crafts are practiced or supported by women. Supporting women artisans with training, access to markets, and financial literacy empowers them socially and economically, improving gender equality within communities. Environmental Sustainability: Traditional crafts utilize natural materials and sustainable practices. Promoting these crafts contributes to environmental conservation by reducing reliance on synthetic materials and promoting eco-friendly production methods. Integration with Modern Technologies: Introducing modern tools and technologies in traditional crafts can enhance productivity, product design, and market competitiveness while preserving traditional techniques and aesthetics. Community Development: Revitalizing traditional crafts fosters a sense of community pride and solidarity. It encourages collaboration among artisans, promotes local cultural identity, and strengthens social cohesion. By focusing on the development of traditional crafts, villages in India can harness their cultural capital to drive sustainable development, economic growth, and improved quality of life for their residents.

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