COVID 19 Relief fund-Kala Raksha

Kala Raksha is a grass root non-profit organization and working for preservation of traditional arts and providing the employment to more than 1000 women artisans of Kutch area since last 25 years.

Kala Raksha is always ready to help it's artisans during the difficult situation arriving from Natural Calamities like Earthquake, Cyclone or Corana Virus COViD_19 Pandemic situation. It is always ready to take care of their artisans. Here it is to mention that during Earthquake situation, Kala Raksha raised funds to assist our artisans, their families and community members.The Trust designed a project that enables artisans capacity and rights in the rehabilitation process.Called “Stone Soup” after a folk tale about cooperation, it solicited support from friends and well wishers. Funds were used to support artisans in rebuilding their own lives and each Kala Raksha artisan received a matching grant of 100% for every rupee she earned embroidering. Major funding was granted to Kala Raksha from American India Foundation, Sir Ratan Tata Trust, friends at Deutsche Bank (Singapore),Dastkar, andIndia Sponsor Foundation for construction of 124 homes in Sumrasar Jatwali.

Now a day the same critical situation arrived for Kala Raksha and its artisans. As Kala Raksha is a non profit organization and due to this critical situation, there is no source of income for Kala Raksha and its artisans. In this situation, it is very difficult to support the artisans without any support from the outsiders, friends and well-wisher of Kala Raksha.

The COVID 19 outbreak created unprecedented upheaval in all of Kala Raksha’s work. At the time, the Trust worked with over 600 traditional women embroiderers and patchworkers.These artisans were in a state of extreme distress and had the task of reconstructing their livelihoods as well as financially recovering.

In addition, Kala Raksha’s usual sources of raw materials were cut off, causing delay and increased expense in production.

At present, the situation is so grim that the artisans are unable to purchase ration and other essential materials fortheir livelihood.

Kala Raksha, therefore appeals to all the supporters and well wishers to support us in keeping with its intention to build capacity toward real development rather than to give handouts and create dependency, Kala Raksha proposed to assist a force that increased to nearly 600 artisans to rebuild their lives. Participating in the process was deemed critical in enabling them to regain a sense of their own capacity to improve their lives, and providing them with a sense of rights in the development process as well.

The Supports would be used to make matching grants directly to artisans against wages, so that artisans could have additional income to their own rehabilitation.

To accommodate the increased production, funds were also used to procure raw materials for the artisans’ work.

Kala Raksha envisages targeting more than 600 direct beneficiaries. If Kala Raksha plans to offer them competitive earnings with additional benefits to their women members as well enabling them to work in their homes at their own schedules. Thus the project can further increase its regular artisans.

Total 600 women artisans are covered from this support and rehabilitated from current COVID 19 pandemic.