National Commission for Women (NCW) organized the 'Women Artisan Exhibition' in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India. The objective of the event was to provide employment opportunities to women based on their traditional knowledge and skills. "Recently, I visited Bhuj and the idea came from there that their product should reach different countries and also to the exporters who can sell their products to different countries,” said Rekha Sharma NCW Chairperson while speaking to a news agency.
"This is the first step. Now we have organized the first exhibition and hopefully, they will get opportunities to sell their products in different countries. People will be coming; the embassies coming here to see the product and buy it. I want to showcase their product all over the world because it is beautiful,” she further said.
The NCW Chairperson also stated that this initiative will also empower women on the economic front. She explained that the women are making products and selling them. The money will go to them and their families. “They have to be economically empowered and I strongly feel that every woman should be empowered economically and that is why we are hand-holding them," she said.
Rekha spoke about the vast talent and art that various Indian states possess. “All over Gujarat, they have come from every district to showcase their unique art. Not only in Gujarat but even if you go to other states, every state has got its art and culture. So, we must showcase all the art and culture of all the states. Hopefully, we will do it with different states," she added.
Amanda Strohan, Acting High Commissioner of Canada spoke at the occasion and said, 'I am impressed by the creativity and professionalism of these women artisans. Canada is very proud to be a co-host of this event. We know that if we help women in becoming entrepreneurs it will help them to be empowered economically which is the best way for us to grow communities and societies. "Full empowerment and participation of women and girls in our society is the best way to achieve this goal. So, we are very proud to share with India the objective of women & girls' empowerment and be a co-host of today's event," she added.
Sunil Shukla, EDII Director General stated that supporting the artisans through the required means has helped revive the culture of weaving arts. "The handicraft of Gujarat is very famous and we are connected to them. There is a scheme of the Gujarat government named 'Hastkalasetu Yojana' and we are connected with them as a technical partner institution and are working with these artists. We give them new designs, market linkages, technology support, hand-holding, grooming, mentoring and access to the market be it across the world or through digital marketing. The results are really good. This has revived the few weaving arts which were dead earlier,” he said.
Explaining her work, one of the plastic weaving artisans at the exhibition explained her work process. "Waste plastic is very harmful. So, we have a group of 50 women. We go to villages and collect the plastic. First, we ask our sisters not to buy plastic, but even if you're buying it, don't throw it because it causes a lot of pollution. We collect the plastic and wash them. We cut it and then we weave it and form clothes and from that, we make our bags," said the artisan said.
