Tales from the pipli and ghoredia applique clusters of odisha

In the realm of cyclical income and landless struggles, Bharati emerges from the shadows of her family’s masonry lineage. With earnings fluctuating between 6000 to 8000 per month, she finds solace in the humble livelihood of raising livestock, dreaming of a plot of land as a beacon of security.

Amidst the tumult of uncertainty, the FMC-CISCO initiative unfurls like a spectral hand, awakening Bharati’s dormant skills in Kantha stitch. From the ashes of tradition rise contemporary aspirations, fueled by digital entrepreneurial lessons that breathe life into her dreams of a new business venture.

Collaborating with the project design team, Bharati navigates uncharted waters, birthing new apparitions in the form of kaftan, stoles and sarees adorned with modern designs. As her creations find resonance in the market, a steady income of Rs 5000 per month becomes her tether to stability. She plans to create an enterprise, engaging 6 other women artisans, catering to local and faraway markets through digital means.

In a calculated dance of prudence, Bharati directs her newfound earnings into a savings account, a reservoir for both the working capital of her burgeoning business and the realization of her long-held dream of land ownership. Amidst the shackles of life’s uncertainties, Bharati’s journey embodies the relentless pursuit of stability and autonomy in a world fraught with flux.

In the face of limited economic opportunities, Snehalata Khotei, a member of a modest family in Dugal, Odisha confronts the challenges of financial constraint. Despite support from her husband, the meagre returns from the Pipili market cast a shadow over her prospects.

A fortuitous encounter with a Community Resource Person (CRP) of the FMC-CISCO initiative in Dugal sparks a transformative journey. Engaging in a crucial discussion, Snehalata is introduced to the potential of a training program by the FMC staff. Motivated by this insight, she wholeheartedly commits to the endeavor.

Empowered with new knowledge in online marketplace, and digital marketing, Snehalata emerges as a catalyst for change. She shares her learnings with her husband, reshaping their approach to online transactions and market engagement. With adept negotiation skills, she secures better prices for their goods, leading to a monthly income exceeding Rs 10,000. In the process, she gathered a team of 5, for order fulfilment, creating additional income opportunity of Rs 3000 for each.

This enhanced earning capacity signifies a significant step toward economic security and autonomy, reflecting the transformative potential of empowerment in overcoming financial constraints.

In the rural expanse of Badahata, Odisha, Parvati Swain, a 38-year-old mother, grapples with the multifaceted challenges of marginalization. Hindered by financial constraints, her daughters faced the harsh reality of interrupted education, despite her husband’s modest earnings from a small-scale ice cream vending business.

In a bid to alleviate their plight, Parvati, with the support of a compassionate neighbour, delved into the realm of applique work as a means of supplementing their income. It was during this pursuit that she encountered the FMC’s training program, a catalyst for transformative change.

Initially drawn by the promise of immediate financial relief, Parvati soon discovered that the program offered far more than mere economic respite. Through rigorous training and skill enhancement, she not only bolstered her confidence but also significantly elevated her craftsmanship.

Armed with newfound proficiency, Parvati now commands higher remuneration for her work and adeptly navigates negotiations with vendors. This remarkable progress has translated into a substantial increase in her monthly income, from Rs 4,000 to Rs 12,000.

Emboldened by her own journey of empowerment, Parvati extends the opportunity of skill enhancement to her daughters. As they emerge from the training program, they become active contributors to the family’s economic well-being, paving the way for the younger daughter to resume her education.

Residing in Ghoredia village, Odisha, Sonali has long been immersed in the applique craft, a vital income stream for her landless family. Seeking avenues to ameliorate their socio-economic standing, she embraced the FMC-CISCO initiative, catalyzing a journey toward economic upliftment.

Central to Sonali’s trajectory was the acquisition of digital literacy and proficiency in navigating online marketplaces. Through strategic guidance from the project team, she harnessed the power of digital platforms, particularly Facebook, to forge connections with traders from Pipili and beyond.

Recognizing the pivotal role of product presentation in online commerce, Sonali diligently absorbed insights from the project’s product photography workshop, optimizing her digital catalogue to attract customers.

The ramifications of Sonali’s digital enterprise reverberate not only within her household but across her community. By leveraging online channels, she exponentially expanded her market reach, with a staggering 80 percent of her business emanating from virtual sources. This surge in demand facilitated the delegation of work to fellow women in Ghoredia, thereby engendering a ripple effect of economic empowerment.

At present, Sonali and her mother yield a monthly income exceeding Rs 12,000. Yet, the impact transcends mere financial gains, as their endeavor sustains livelihoods for other women in the village. Moreover, Sonali emerges as a pivotal figure, bridging the generational gap between traditional artisans and contemporary market dynamics, thereby fostering economic resilience within her community.