DARE - Because Entrepreneurs Do

By Chirmi Acharya

Hailing from tribal area near Pindrai village, in Mandala district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanta Khandase is a handicrafts artist and the unique thing about her work is that it is derived from Khajoor leaves.  Kanta’s grandfather taught her the art of using khajoor leaves as material to make brooms; she never knew that the art will become an inherent part of her life.

There are few sources of income in a tribal area and so Kanta planned to work after her marriage. With full support from husband and family she, along with twelve other women formed a group Mahalakshi Susahayata Samuh in 2001 of which she is the head, and started selling the khajoor items. “Initially I had to train other girls, and they gradually picked up.” said Kanta. They had to take a loan from government in the earlier days but now they are a self dependent group of thirty women.

“Mother earth is the giver” kanta said while explaining the fine nuances of her work. The raw material i.e. khajoor leaves are obtained from the forest. These leaves are then dried and stored and before using them to make an artifact the leaves are first soaked in water and then cleaned and trimmed accordingly. While giving the details she was braiding the fine thread from leaves almost mechanically into a flawless craft item

Kanta and her group have been exbhiting their work across the country and she been appraised for the work wherever she went. The handicrafts items her group makes include broom (not the common ones used in our homes), lamp shades, vases and other decorative pieces. What more she has even received an award of Innovative Artist from National Institute of Design, Ahmadabad

Her hard work has taken her beyond the boundaries of India. In 2004 she got an opportunity to present her work in a festival in Dubai.

These tribal women are no way behind their urban counterparts. They are effectively using their talents and are moving ahead on the track of self dependence and self confidence.

Chirmi Acharya is a Dare Community Editor

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