About Us

WHO WE ARE

​​

At Kartavya Karma, we believe in a world where women and the environment thrive together. Our mission is to empower women artisans and support organic farming practices by providing them with the tools, training, and resources they need to create a sustainable future. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where women's craftsmanship not only flourishes but also contributes to the health of our planet.

​

What We Do

​

• Empowerment Through Craftsmanship: We provide comprehensive training programs to women artisans, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their craft and organic farming. Our workshops cover everything from traditional techniques to innovative methods that enhance both quality and sustainability.

• Promoting Natural Products: We advocate for the use of 100% biodegradable materials in the creation of artisan products. By promoting natural, eco-friendly alternatives, we help reduce the environmental impact of consumer goods while supporting traditional craftsmanship and farming practices.

• Market Access and Support: We assist artisans in accessing local and global markets by offering marketing support, fair trade practices, and business development guidance. Our goal is to help women artisans and farmers build sustainable businesses that thrive economically and socially.

• Community Building: We foster a supportive community where women artisans and farmers can share their experiences, learn from one another, and collaborate on new projects. Our network of artisans and farmers is a source of inspiration and strength, driving collective growth and environmental stewardship.

​

Our Commitment

​

We are committed to creating lasting impact through the empowerment of women and the promotion of environmentally sustainable practices. Every product made by our artisans tells a story of skill, dedication, and respect for nature. By supporting our initiatives, you are not just purchasing a product; you are investing in a future where women and the environment can flourish together.

​

Join us in our mission to create a brighter, more sustainable world.

​​

SOCIAL CHANGE

​

Kartavya Karma’s work has catalysed a noticeable change in the lives of its artisans, who once were not even exposed to their own villages. Today these women artisans are confident enough to make their own decisions within the family as well as in different socio-political groups. Economic empowerment has also created a marked difference in their awareness towards education, healthcare, social status and family life.

 

Kartavya Karma’s work has catalysed a noticeable change in the lives of its artisans, who once were not even exposed to their own villages. Today these women artisans are confident enough to make their own decisions within the family as well as in different socio-political groups. Economic empowerment has also created a marked difference in their awareness towards education, healthcare, social status and family life.

​​

OUR VALUES

​

SHARED HUMANITY

We want to spread the philosophy of shared humanity where people readily share their economic and intellectual wealth the less privileged ones. This way we create a world where we all have equal opportunities to fight against the odds and share the burdens brought forth by centuries of exploitation and neglect.

​

RESPECT

 

Respect is a fundamental right of every living being on this planet. With respect germinates a sense of dignity and the sense of dignity fuels the drive to do better in life. We respect the intrinsic, the inherent characteristics and values of all the communities and we want them to work towards prosperity keeping those characteristics and values intact.

 

INTEGRITY

 

Integrity lays the foundation of trust, friendship, professionalism and transparency. We put great stress upon the integrity of our actions to establish long-lasting relationships with our volunteers and the communities they work with. We achieve this by relentlessly re-evaluating ourselves as a coordination team and carry out changes as and when they are required. We have a single-minded purpose of helping you serve the needy communities and remove the hurdles you may encounter in the alien (but non-hostile) environments. Integrity is our driving force.

​​

ABOUT PAHARI HAAT

​

Pahari Haat is an initiative of women empowerment programme launched by Kartavya Karma Trust. Under the project Udyogini, our women's empowerment collection is the most prestigious selection of artisan products produced by women of hills in Uttarakhand. Each product is handcrafted by a hardworking woman who is able to live her dream of becoming self-reliant and supporting her family. From creation to shipping, these village women are playing a critical role in every step of the process while earning a fair wage and gaining employable skills for the future. Shop all your favourite handmade products treasures knowing that each purchase empowers a woman to use her artistic talents to provide for her family.

 

PROJECT UDYOGINI

 

There are three wings under project Udyogini ie’ Handicrafts, Hand Knits & Agro Products

​

HANDICRAFTS

​

Kartavya Karma was established in 2014 to provide alternative incomes for women in Uttarakhand’s hilly rural belt. As these communities were not dependent on agriculture, handicraft was chosen to be introduced to them. Kartavya Karma taught Handcrafted Eco Friendly Fabric Jewellery,Handmade bags, Ram Jhole and Cushion covers skills to the women for them to earn a secure living. Today, Kartavya Karma provides

continuous training to women artisans to improve their skills, a support network to them in their villages and a respectable position in their familyz and society.

 

HAND KNITS

​

Kartavya Karma’s knitting program launched in 2016 in village Chiliyanaula, Ranikhet. It's mission is to create fairly paid, good quality, flexible and local employment for rural women who are poor and often disadvantaged. Kartavya Karma teaches and improves the knitting skills of women from surrounding villages, promoting financial independence and confidence through the knowledge of a craft. The final products are successfully sold in markets focused on socially responsible and sustainable community development.

 

AGRO PRODUCTS

​

Kartavya karma believes in promoting sustainable agricultural technologies that are based on farmers’ knowledge and skills, their innovation based on local conditions and their use of nature’s products and processes to gain better control over the pre-production and production processes involved in agriculture. We bring you the authentic organically grown Pahari spices, pulses, herbs, Honey and much more so that you can rely on us as the cornerstone of your nutritional health.

 

IMPACT : 

 

Kartavya karma is a catalyst for long-term change by providing women artisans with opportunities for economic empowerment and ways to strengthen their communities

 

• Kartavya Karma’s social entrepreneurs business is based on dialogue, transparency and respect.

• Not only fair wages, but a long term holistic partnership enabling the artisans to improve their lives and grow a sustainable business.

 

Skills and quality training

​

• Build artisan skills  based upon their traditional crafts.

• Work in collaboration with Fashion Designers, Local knitters share new stitches, patterns, and designs and a horticulturist is also to help them

• Strengthen quality practices to ensure outstanding products.

​

Sustainable incomes

​

• Provide artisan income based program principles.

• Create income opportunities for women where few options are available.

• Return all profit to Kartavya karma women artisans

 

Market Access

​

• Provide access to the international marketplace where artisans are able to sell their products above local market prices.

• Develop the Pahari Haat brand of fine quality, modern design and traditional crafts and also Himalayan herbal fusions-spices

 

Leadership training

​

• Build leadership skills within Kartavya Karma so that local women are leading the business.

• Teach women artisan technology and business skills including email, spreadsheets,, inventory management, financial tracking, and order systems.

 

Educational workshops

​

• Offer workshops in computer skills, English language, nutrition, and community building.

• Teach general business lessons on supply chain, business economics, payment distribution, and steps towards sustainability.

 

Regional collaboration

​

• Participate in the Artisan’s Leadership Collaborative where women from across the region come together to learn from each other.

• Network with the women’s collective to learn how to successfully build a self-help and community advocacy group.

 

Community building

​

• Foster ways for the artisans to work, learn, and laugh together, enriching their relationships with each other.

• Provide a safe and comfortable space, in the form of the Women Center, where members can meet.

• Create a communal emergency fund which is used to provide women loans or gifts in times of crisis.

 

Through these projects the women of Kartavya karma are able to use their traditional, home-based skills to achieve economic independence and greater community strength.  Artisans are provided a space to realize their own ability, creativity, and talents in an economically beneficial way for both themselves and their families.

 

FUTURE PLANS

 

Developing an Artisan Village

​

We have a dream to have our own Handicraft Village . We want our village just not to be famous in Uttarkhand but also on the world map. Whenever, wherever people will search for Talla Gethia they will find our name.  We will also develop more products like Spices, Aipan Paintings, Bio- cosmetics, handmade soaps, Inscence sticks and candles.

 

Promoting Tourism

​

We have thought of creating our own tourist base, Anybody who comes to Nainital will come to Talla gethia too once our milestone is achieved which will in hand increase our revenues.

 

Goal to have 1000 families

​

In villages of Uttarakhand, women are the ones who handle everything and thats why we at Kartavya Karma consider one woman as one family which means that if 1000 women become part of our team, we have 1000 families with us.