During my recent field visit to Raichur, an aspirational district in Karnataka, I was reminded once again of the rich and diverse culture and craft traditions that define this region. Meeting with the women artisans here is always a deeply inspiring experience. These rural women artisans eager to learn, consistently innovate, and adapt their skills to new challenges in scaling up their business. Under one of our projects with LTTS (L&T Technology Services), our interventions have borne fruitful and meaningful changes in their lives and businesses.
The program is designed to strengthen multiple facets of the entrepreneurship journey for rural women artisans, which includes upskilling in digital, financial, and business management, along with providing networking and mentoring opportunities, and access to finance. Our work with women artisans in Raichur is a witness to the transformative power of comprehensive support that technology interventions can provide towards building a sustainable livelihood model. The intensive training programs, combined with continuous support, have empowered these artisans to envision and expand their business horizons, reaching far beyond the confines of their villages.
As the festive season approaches, our program participants are channelling their creativity into innovative revenue-generating strategies through simple tools that the digital world offers today. These remarkable women artisans are transcending the digital divide, navigating mobility restrictions, and challenging traditional gender roles. They are boldly reclaiming their market identities; transforming obstacles into stepping-stones on their path to empowerment and success and not just creating products and selling them in local markets but are also writing success stories, breaking barriers, and aspiring to market their craft on a larger scale.
Economic Empowerment through TechForGood
One of the standout initiatives is the making of Rakhis for Rakshabandhan. Women artisans from Sirwar and Manvi villages have acknowledged this additional craft alongside their primary work. Through nasscom foundation’s interventions under the Women Empowerment Program, they are learning to design unique rakhis using applications like Pinterest and YouTube. They have started uploading their creations on social media, effectively integrating digital marketing into their sales strategy for greater visibility.
Saniya from Sirwar and Ragini from Manvi are two shining examples. Saniya has started managing orders from the local level and exploring courier options for wider distribution. She mentioned, “Receiving digital payments has empowered me to increase production. Rakhi making helped me visualize my business in a structured way and understand market trends.” Ragini shared a similar sentiment, saying, “I have only delivered my products to nearby villages, but sending them to Delhi and Bangalore is a first for me.” Their stories reflect the passion and commitment that drives these women to strategize and sell their products during special celebrations to boost their sales. Moreover, the encouragement they receive on a small positive step forward is immense, propelling them forward in their entrepreneurship journey.
This initiative is far more than just making rakhis; it’s about shaping an entrepreneurial mind-set and spirit among our artisans. It’s about promoting local products on a larger scale and creating a ripple effect of economic empowerment.
Through their stories, we see not just the impact of our project but also the incredible strength and capability of these women. They remind us that with the right support and opportunities, they can overcome their challenges and achieve beyond expectations.
Check out the Instagram pages of women entrepreneurs who transformed their lives with our digital skills program:
