Women Empowerment through Craft Revival: A Case Study of Rehwa, Indore

Abstract

Indian handloom and handicraft sector represents an important source of sustenance in rural areas and is also the single most prevalent non-farm livelihood. Originally, handicrafts may have started as a part time activity in the rural areas, however, it has now transformed into a flourishing economic activity due to ever growing market demand. Women in rural households, their leisure hours are never wasted. They relax from performing household chores by keeping their fingers busy-weaving, embroidering, quilting, basket-making and other such handwork. As the demand for handmade products increased they started doing it in spare time to earn money. With increasing demand many craft organizations working for craft revival and women empowerment encouraged the women to take up craft as a full time activity. This assured them a regular source of income and improved the quality of their life. More and more joined and benefitted. With this background the aim of this study is to focus attention on the craft organization Rehwa, Indore working specifically with women weavers of the world famous maheshwari saris. The main purpose of this research is to look into the strategies and methodology adopted by Rehwa for revival and preservation of the art of weaving, and empowering the women weavers through sustainable livelihood.