Abhihaara, a social enterprise initiative, has taken up a mission of uplifting the artisans of the Kondapalli region, and has set up the 'Green Craft Store and Workshop' in Kondapalli of Krishna district.
The store was inaugurated on Wednesday by AP School Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission vice-chairperson A. Vijaya Sarada Reddy and AP Handicrafts chairperson B. Vijayalakshmi along with Abhihaara's chief executive officer and co-founder Sudha Rani Mullapudi.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Sudha Rani said COVID-19 had impacted most of the artisans and they were pushed into distress and a debt trap. With an objective of keeping alive the heritage and legacy of Kondapalli toys, Abhihaara had conceptualised and launched the Green Craft Store and Workshop for young women, she said.
The store, which will be managed by women, sells toys exclusively made by women artisans. It is one of the key aspects that would ensure the craft survives and thrives too, she said.
“We firmly believe that when you empower a woman, you empower a community at large. The purpose of this initiative is not just to provide livelihood opportunities for 50 women but also to accelerate women's participation in the overall development", she said.
Ms. Sarada Reddy said that it was heartening to see women hone their skills and become custodians of the 400-year-old craft of Kondapalli toy-making. The artisans needed support to market the Kondapalli toys globally, she added.
Ms. Vijayalakshmi said the State government would extend full support to scale up the Green Craft store initiative led by women artisans.
The workshop provides training for women in higher-order skills such as chiselling and carving, natural dyeing and others.
Abhihaara is supported by The Institute for Advanced Studies in Complex Choices ( IASCC) founded by Anil K. Sood and Chitra Sood. IASCC is encouraging naturally dyed production including handloom weaves and Kondapalli toys, Ms. Sudha Rani said.
