| Asha means "HOPE"
in Sanskrit. Thousands of artisans and producer groups depend
on Asha Handicrafts for assistance throughout India, from carpet
weavers and paper mache makers in Kashmir, the Northern most
part of India, to Kalamkari artisans of Andhra Pradesh in South
India, to leather workers of Calcutta in the East, to tribal
women of Gujarat in the West doing their ethnic embroidery on
cotton, to the many other wood workers, brass workers, weavers,
silver smiths etc. located all over different parts of India...
India, one of the largest handicraft producing countries
in the World, offers an unlimited range of crafts and products.
For centuries, India has been renowned for its rich silk fabrics,
woodcarvings, carpets and ivory. The legendary handloom industry
of India has maintained a wide range of fine gossamer sarees
and adorned floor mats. However, all of these products of
lasting beauty and value are often produced in conditions
of abject poverty, for the craftsmen, are nearly always being
exploited by the moneylenders.
During the last few decades the condition of artisans have
began to progress. Through the introduction of Non- Government
Organisations, growing international awareness, and supportive
financial institutions, the standards of living for some of
the most underprivileged and impoverished communities of people
are improving.
Asha Handicrafts, an Alternative Trading Organisation,
are helping to spread the concepts and benefits of Fair Trading
in India and abroad. As a not-for-profit making body, Asha
Handicrafts endeavours to ensure that the benefits of handicraft
production reach the craftspeople themselves.
Since its establishment in 1975, Asha has given marketing
support to various groups of small producers and craftsmen
co-operatives. Smaller scale handicraft producers are disadvantaged
because they lack financial awareness and knowledge of promotional
and management skills. By purchasing directly from artisan
groups and offering advance payments on orders, Asha tries
to increase the income levels of producer groups and artisans
and prevent them from accumulating long-term debts. Asha's
contributions have presented artisans with an opportunity
to improve their standards, helping them feed their families
and continue with their livelihoods, the tradition of crafts.
Asha Handicrafts are filling the gaps and making ends
meet. Asha also provides training and teaching facilities
in tailoring and metal work, thereby establishing new local
groups of craftsmen.
Sustainability in a wider context is the aim of Asha Handicrafts.
A network of producer groups across the country now look to
Asha Handicrafts both for marketing support and for
overcoming difficulties they face during production processes.
As a member organization of the International Federation
for Alternative Trade [ IFAT ],we share their goals, which
include:
- Commitment to fair trade
- Transparency or openness about business practices
- Ethical and effective workplaces
- Equal employment opportunities
- Concern for people and the environment
- Education about and advocacy of fair trade
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