Page 50 - Tata-Trusts-Annual-Report-2022-23

Keeping the age-old crafts of the

handloom sector alive EMPOWERMENT

India is home to approximately 3.5 million weavers and and on social media. In 2022, she o cially started her
artisans, all of whom have been in the sector for generations. business. She got an opportunity to exhibit her products on
Tata Trusts’ Antaran initiative revolves around keeping o ine platforms like Dastkar in Delhi, Nila House in Jaipur,
traditional crafts and weaves alive by supporting the artisans, and also at NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology),
modernising these products and finding newer ways to Shillong, where she learned new weaving techniques and how
market these. to connect with customers and handloom lovers.

Anitoli (39) is also one such Gradually, Anitoli became a
weaver from Sunito village in well-known weaver in her village.
Nagaland, who learnt the craft She expanded her unit and
from her mother. From a young trained 17 weavers and artisans.
age of 15, Anitoli would assist her Soon she started receiving bulk
mother in various weaving orders from clients. Now she
activities. Even though she had a enjoys financial independence
natural flair for it, Anitoli was and earns a profit of `15,000
unable to generate enough income per month. She invests a part
from it as her reach was limited to of the income in her business
only her village. After she got and remaining to provide for
married, Anitoli gave up weaving her household needs.
entirely and got busy with household
chores and raising her children. It is with grit, dedication and determination that Anitoli
pursued her ambition. She has kept the traditional art and
In 2021, the Trusts’ Antaran initiative, which empowers weave of Nagaland alive and thanks to Antaran, has been
women weavers and artisans and encourages them to take able to find a national market for it.
their products to a larger market, reached Anitoli’s village in
Nagaland. Anitoli was impressed and saw this as a once-in-a- Anitoli’s contribution to the arts and crafts of Nagaland is
lifetime opportunity. This was her chance to get back to her admirable as she continues to inspire hundreds of women in
skill and use it to pursue her dream of being an entrepreneur. her region.
As part of the initiative, Anitoli learned how to modernise her
products and reach a younger audience. She learnt new
weaving techniques and how to use various types of yarns to
create new patterns, designs and products. She was taught
basic digital marketing skills to market her products online

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