Livelihoods

The Gandhian approach to life aims for greater equity, or “distributive justice”, by promoting simple technology that helps meet basic human needs such as food, clothing, shelter, health and education.

Artisans such as leather workers, potters, weavers, block printers, carpenters and metal workers used to be the technical mainstays of the rural economy. But “progress” has brought new technology, and displaced traditional skills and competencies. Barefoot College has strengthened Gandhi’s “barefoot” technology and knowledge, presenting them to the world with dignity and grace.

Capturing desert colours and patterns – sustaining livelihoods and empowering people

Rajasthan is home to the brilliant colours of woven cloths, prints and designs, but the people behind this heritage now fight to survive in a hostile market driven by synthetic techniques.

Since 1974, Barefoot College has been developing local craft skills through “learning by doing”, a way of learning that the College has nurtured through the years. Traditional and modern skills come together to form a new basis for craft work.

In 1975, Barefoot College began promoting rural handicrafts, both to prevent the crafts themselves from disappearing and to ensure the survival of those who worked with them. It was difficult for these crafts persons (dastakers), who belong mainly to Dalit and minority communities, to deal with both their social and economic problems. Barefoot College made it a priority to work with them.

Hatheli Sansthan was set up by Barefoot College as an independent registered society to invest in economic sustainability for craftspeople, especially women. Hatheli means “in the palms of one’s hands”- a symbolic and very real description of Barefoot College’s journey through the Gandhian concepts of the richness of handmade products. Worker-managed, and with an expertise born of collective heritage, Hatheli has adopted the Barefoot approach to handicrafts production and marketing. Proceeds from sales are re-invested in further employment and crafts promotion.

With its splendid 50-year history, Hatheli’s journey continues with newer challenges and a growing archive of the history of traditional crafts in which each product has its own story and context. From being mere producers, its artisans are beginning to look at design and what buyers want, and by selling directly they keep pace with the ever-changing market. Exhibitions have been held over the years in many Indian cities. The two retail shops at the Barefoot College campus in Tilonia and at Patan showcase the work.

Visit Tilonia Bazaar

Woodwork

Rare and precious in Rajasthan, wood is used sparingly and work focusing on it has had its difficult moments. Hatheli’s woodwork section was set up in 1999 to make educational toys to help Barefoot College’s Night School students learn. New tools had to be introduced and craftsmen trained. But what began as a unit catering to learning needs grew, moving into giving support to house construction both in villages and on the Tilonia campus, and finally to crafts. In 2000, vocational training to students from marginalised communities helped young people set up independent workshops. As of January 2023, we have trained 70 students in how to craft wood.

Metalwork and fabrication

The unit was set up with the support of the Government of India in 1986. The process of fostering local workers’ own traditional metal skills as well as bringing in outside expertise began when 150 “dropout” students from the Night Schools were offered metalcraft training. It succeeded to the extent that these “students” are now employed in different manufacturing units, some even having started their own workshops. Six women have been trained to make solar cookers and have been able to use their skills to work tractor bodies and other similar things. There is now a local demand for their skills.

Using skills development to overcome caste and gender barriers

Rajput and Muslim women traditionally observe purdah (being secluded from public view), but by encouraging and drawing them out of their homes for training, Barefoot College as helped them build skills, and in turn they feel empowered. Dalit working women have gained too, having learned craft skills that now bring them a supplementary income, and the numbers migrating to cities have dropped dramatically.

Hatheli has helped them in their business ventures through offering carpentry skills training in entrepreneurship, basic banking, accounting and literacy. The carpentry section too provides a source of livelihood, especially for widows, specially-abled and weaker individuals. One of our biggest achievements is training illiterate and semi-literate women to build solar cookers and lanterns. This skills development initiative has resulted in more than 1,146 villages globally being solar-electrified.

Stories of Impact

Rukhsana – an artisan from Sali village

Rukhsana’s training in stitching and other handicrafts improved her confidence and gave her hope.

Like so many other rural women, Rukhsana had no employment and her family struggled to survive – so entering the craft section at Barefoot College in Tilonia was a huge boon. Being trained in tailoring, a skill that guarantees self-employment, she no longer has to worry about finding school fees and food for her family, and because she works from home, she can fulfil her domestic responsibilities. Spending time at Barefoot College has improved her confidence. She feels empowered.

Pinky – a Dalit artisan from Tilonia

Pinky believes that financial independence has changed her life. It has certainly changed the way that people in her village and community perceive her.

Pinky, the eldest of five siblings, is the primary bread winner for her family, as her father had a road accident and is bed ridden. The financial contribution she makes now that she is trained in stitching means that her younger brothers and sisters can go to school, and the flexible training schedule gives her time to support her family at home. She feels empowered and confident, and people treat her with respect.