Karmakutir- Women's Empowerment & the Revival of Handicrafts

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Centenary Celebration of Founder President Late Dr. Phulrenu Guha (13th Aug, 1911 - 20th July, 2006)

Karma Kutir wishes to celebrate the Centenary of Late Dr. Phulrenu Guha by taking forward the causes that she was committed to. A Commemorative Seminar on “Voluntary Work for Social Advancement – Issues and Experiences” was very successfully held on 11th February 2011, at Dr. Triguna Sen Auditorium of Jadavpur University. Karma Kutir was privileged to have a host of eminent speakers associated with the field of Voluntary Social Work including Dr. Jasodhara Bagchi and Shri Tushar Kanjilal.

Agenda:

  • We also hope to lay the foundation stone for the new building to house the Integrated Child Development Centre at 118, Bosepukur Road, Kolkata 700039.
  • Empower 200 – 250 underprivileged women through training in Handicrafts, Beautician Course, and Computer Courses at Karma Kutir and outreach centres.

Karma Kutir is a Registered Voluntary Social Welfare Organization working relentlessly to generate self-employment opportunities for marginalized women and girls in rural as well as urban areas in India. Karma Kutir upholds the dignity of human life in all its activities.

Since its inception in 1961, Karma Kutir, has the sole aim of helping the least privileged women and children. Its journey of helping people began with the rehabilitation of the uprooted people of erstwhile East Pakistan.

Having full faith in the innate capacity of women, Karma Kutir has over the years, dedicated itself to empowerment of marginalized women through training in handicrafts, production, marketing and self-employment.

Karma Kutir runs a showroom in Kolkata where handicrafts made by the women at Karma Kutir are sold. The exhibitions organized by Karma Kutir, are also great opportunities to showcase kantha, batik and other products crafted by the women. Through all these activities Karma Kutir not only provides a livelihood for needy women, but also preserves some heritage art forms of Bengal .

Current Training Programmes for unprivileged women

  • Training in tailoring for 10 underprivileged women at Karma Kutir premises at Gariahat Road - Training period of 6 months funded by ONGC.
  • Training in beautician course for 15 underprivileged women – Training period of 6 months - Partly funded by Coal India Limited.
  • Training in hand embroidery for 10 underprivileged women in village Bishnupur, south 24 parganas with Karma Kutir resources.
  • Training in hand embroidery for 20 underprivileged women in Narikeldanga - 1 year course- Partly funded by Coal India Limited.
Batik
  • Batik
  • Silk Screen Printing
Reviving and preserving the age-old craft of Batik.
Kantha and Ari work
  • Kantha
  • Ari and other forms of Hand Embroidery
Reviving and preserving the traditional folk art of Bengal.Keeping pace with contemporary demands.
Beautician
  • Beautician Course
Potential source of income-generation for women, who may not be able to develop very fine artistic or handicrafts skills.
 

Our Strategy

 

Appeal

All the projects of Karma Kutir depend upon your generous support - both emotional and financial.
We appeal to YOU to take part in our endeavour.
 
Kalakendra
Kalakendra
Karma Kutir’s Kalakendra was established in November 2002, with the aim ofproviding cultural exposure to underprivileged women and children through training in painting and dance by professionally qualified trainers
Handicrafts
Handicrafts
Karma Kutir works for empowerment of marginalized women through skill and confidence building and self employment and income generation opportunities. Dr. Phulrenu Guha, a social activist, philanthropist and legislator, joined by a group of active social workers, founded Karma Kutir
Showroom
Showroom
  Karma Kutir runs a Showroom at 411/8 Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Sarani (P-8 Gariahat Road), Kolkata - 700029, to provide a marketing outlet for the products crafted by women trained by Karma Kutir and working at the Self Employment Centre at Karma Kutir. It remains open on Monday to Friday, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 11:00 am ti