Help the Weavers of Maheshwar | Milaap
Help the Weavers of Maheshwar
  • Anonymous

    Created by

    Mohamed Azmil R
  • MA

    This fundraiser will benefit

    Mohamed Azmil R

    from Begumpur, Uttarakhand

Why do we care?


The art of weaving sarees has seen a tragic decline over the last few decades due to the invasion of powerlooms and brand culture. Is it possible to envision an India without its weavers, though? The tradition of the handloom saree is woven into the very fabric of our country and is testament to the stunning diversity of our many cultures. The current state of weaving clusters across the country is extremely precarious, with beautiful weaves going rare or extinct and weavers, old and young, living in conditions of terrible poverty and neglect. That's where our organization, Bunavat Weaves comes in.


Who are we?


Bunavat is a social enterprise which works towards bridging the gap between the weaver and the urban Indian and contributing to weaver welfare across the country. We have successfully conducted social initiatives for clusters in need, such as a winter clothes distribution for the weavers of Begampur . This February, our student team intends to execute multiple workshops for the weavers of Maheshwar that will bring innovative methods of improving and adding to their craft into their everyday lives.


Who are we raising funds for?


Meet the weavers of Maheshwar, a quaint riverside village where the art of the handloom is trying to stay alive, despite the odds. Around 7000 weavers working in the cluster get paid less than Rs. 400 per saree which requires 14+ hours of continuous work. Older weavers barely manage Rs 20 per hour of strenuous, menial work. Weavers lack motivation for their craft and are largely out of touch with the needs of the modern Indian, which puts them at a great disadvantage and leads them to rely on middlemen and get heavily exploited along the way. After a visit to Maheshwar, our student team realized that this is where we can contribute significantly to their livelihoods: introduce skills that will help them directly and better engage with urban customers.


Why do we need the funds?


The workshops that we have planned will be deployed on at least 30 weavers in the cluster and target certain areas that can tangibly enhance their existing skills and teach them new techniques as well. The funds raised will be used for the implementation of the module, including logistics, operations costs, and programme expenses. Here are a few of the sessions planned :
* Soft skills
* Photography
* Social media literacy
* Financial literacy
* Digital marketing
* Motivation workshop


In order to make this project possible, we need sufficient funds to ensure that we do justice to the cause and make a real sustainable impact in the lives of our Maheshwari weavers.
We would really appreciate all the help we can get because every little bit counts!
It's time we give back to the folks who have kept our heritage alive through the irreplaceable resilience of the saree.

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