Sadhna NGO – Empowering Rural Women

Sadhna a unit of Seva mandir was started in 1988 under income augmentation project with women groups in rural, tribal and urban slums belts of Udaipur resign, and enduring through various stages of non-viability, functional effectiveness and finally impressive growth both in terms of production and sales, it has today grown into a self sufficient and independent organization.. This program started with a small group of 15 women who were trained in the skill of appliqué (embroidery), Sadhna’s total artisan membership has increased to 639. The challenge, therefore, was to find kind of something that could be mass based and yet provide adequate returns. So they have chosen Appliqué and Tanka Embroidery, with the idea of building the basic stitching traditions. Major fact to chose it was something women could do while staying at home, and time being. The journey, in the starting years was very difficult but in spite of it, they continue doing this program, and after that this program managed to overcome with problems and turn into a self sustaining unit. Sadhna was registered as a Mutual Benefit Trust on December, 2004 and the year 2005-2006 was the first full year of working. All the artisans are also member owners of Sadhna. Sadhna’s main aim lies in being able to create cluster of artisans, to enable more and more women attain socio-economic empowerment. Sadhna has made a lot of headway on social dimension, and has certainly learnt a lot about the challenges of strengthening & empowering women, using a commercial enterprise as a medium.

Design is the most vital part of any producer group’s identity and success. In its approach to design, Sadhna has attempted to blend innovation with continuity. Sadhna has been developing new designs from last two decades which helped in brand building and creating an identity for Sadhna products. Under this activity, Sadhna do organize design development workshop every year. Designers from different parts of country take part in this workshop and trained to artisans. This year design intervention and product development was carried out across all the categories i.e. Home Furnishing, Garments, Accessories, and Thread Jewelry. The focus was on developing more complex design. Sadhna’s product can be found at Feb India which is India’s largest private platform for products that are made from traditional techniques, skills and hand-based processes, not only in Feb India but at so many larger groups Sadhna’s artisans product can be seen. Sadhna has partnership with Olsen group, Germany. Sadhna is getting its identity in European markets too. TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation on India Ltd.) sponsored workshop with Sadhna, Focus of this workshop was on improving skill levels and design development especially for tribal women.

Sadhna’s work area in Udaipur and nearer is Khanjipeer, Kharol Colony,Delwara, Madar, Sheeshwi, Ratekhet & Manoharpura

The most encouraging aspects, of course, are the changes in women’s lives, their growing involvement and influence in their local communities. There are stories a plenty of women now being able to help their families move out of vulnerability, investing in their children’s education, and gaining the respect of their husband and relatives they also play an active role in decision making bodies of Sadhna, through their representation in management committee and Board of Trustees.. Women are also breaking caste and religious boundaries, and building string horizontal solidarities. One of the earliest locations, Delwara, the women are now leading the efforts towards improving their neighborhoods (sanitation, water, solid waste management, etc.) as also becoming active and articulate participants in panchayat processes. Sadhna has exceeded most expectations, and they credit wholly to women‘s energy & commitment, and hard work and dedication of each and every staff member. All women connected with this program got encouragement and inspiration through the chief executive Ms. Leela Vijayvergia to make these dream reality. Many women members are also part of community level activities, such as setting up local self governance systems for the betterment of their area and villages. These women hold important positions at such forums and the community attributes this holistic empowerment to their learning and confidence building within Sadhna.

Sadhna is looking for strengthen its export market. This year Sadhna did well in the international sales. During the coming year, Sadhna will work on establishing more contacts with overseas buyers, as also developing product ranges which will appeal to foreign markets.their main effort will be to maintain a professional attitude toward the orders especially in terms of quality & time.

On social perspective Sadhna has increased its work areas, increased numbers of artisan too. Sadhna has put its great effort for women welfare, through which women got inspired and connected with it, and self dependency developed in them.

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C/o Seva Mandir , Old Fatehpura

Udaipur 313004(Rajasthan)

0294-2454655

City Outlet–

Jagdish Chowk Road,

Kasaron ki oul,Udaipur.

Ph. 0294-2417454

Also Visit their WebSite – Sadhna.Org

An Article By Monika Jain 🙂

Few Work Of Women From Sadhna :-