IIT Kanpur Empowers Rural Women Entrepreneurs with Home Furnishing Workshop

IIT Kanpur organised a six-day workshop focused on home furnishing products, aimed at empowering rural women entrepreneurs by providing them with advanced design insights. Check details here

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur's Design Development Centre at Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra is hosting a six-day workshop on home furnishing products from December 24 to 29, 2024. The workshop aims to empower rural women entrepreneurs by providing advanced design knowledge to create high-quality home furnishings. A diverse group of 39 participants is attending, including 29 rural women artisans from Bithoor, Baikunthpur, and Maksoodabad, as well as 10 students from Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur.

The women, already skilled in tailoring and handicrafts, are eager to use this training to launch their businesses. The workshop, with a vision to empower women by enhancing their skills in home furnishing and guiding them toward independence and entrepreneurial success, kicked off with great enthusiasm and promises to be a transformative experience for all participants.

The event was graced by Sandeep Jain, Founder of Kanpur Parivartan Forum; Babita, a renowned painter; Dr. Archana Singh, Head of the Department of Community Science, Chandra Shekhar Azad University; and Prabha from Aadhar NGO. They motivated participants to harness this platform to develop unique designs and foster mutual learning.

The inaugural session began with an inspiring address by Rita Singh, Project Executive Officer of Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra, IIT Kanpur. She outlined the workshop’s objectives and encouraged participants to leverage the ODOP (One District, One Product) scheme while connecting with the organized sector. Additionally, she announced the creation of a desk to assist aspiring entrepreneurs in registering and accessing relevant government schemes.

Dr. Monika Thakur, Coordinator of the Design Development Centre, provided an overview of the workshop curriculum, highlighting its goals and the significance of collaboration. Curated by Surabhi Saxena, a Delhi-based home textile designer, the curriculum focuses on contemporary techniques in embroidery, crochet, and patchwork. With expert trainers Ritika and Santoshi leading the way, participants will work together to create innovative product lines.

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