In spring’89, the Ranthambhore Foundation invited Dastkar to set up an income generating project that would give hope and resettle the villagers who had been displaced by the creation of the Ranthambhore National Park. As a first step, a survey of the villages around the park was undertaken to map the scope for income generation using traditional craft skills. Next, we began work in the twin villages of Sherpur and Khilchipur.

A need for a permanent presence in the area was felt to overcome the suspicions of the villagers and to gain their confidence. At this time, Laila Tyabji (Chairperson Dastkar) spent 3 weeks living in Sherpur village. The room went on to become a center where people of different castes, religions, occupations and ages would come together to learn new skills. Patchwork cushion covers were our first products. As we went along, we were also able to identify block printers and Bandhini (tie - dye) specialists and set up the necessary stations. In addition, Juttie (footwear) makers were identified in Kundera who were taught the Chattai (weaving) technique and also became a major part of our organization.

For the first time, two women represented Dastkar Ranthambhore in a Dastkar Bazaar in Delhi. This was also their first trip out of the village and we sold goods worth Rs 67,000. Though a small figure, it outsmarted the alternative of backbreaking work as casual labor.

We designed blocks based on the drawings by children from local schools, and traditional Mandana wall and floor paintings done by local women. The motifs taken from the children’s drawings would come to form the foundation of Dastkar Ranthambhore’s aesthetic in the years to come.

Bank accounts were opened for all the women who worked with us. This was also the year when we initiated workshops on legal aid, health, family planning, gender, group building and accounting. However, the highlight of the year was our ability to buy a two-wheeler vehicle for official use.

The numbers soon became too great for the small room. We were given space by the Ranthambhore Foundation which came to house the production center, raw material store, office, sales outlet, a training workshop, and a place for group interactions which in turn changed the attitude of the villagers towards society, caste, marriage and purdah.

We were also successful in reviving black pottery and hand block printing. In addition, a block printing unit was set up and women from the village Kutalpura were enrolled and trained in bandhini craft.

We worked with potters in Shyamota and trained them to make hand sculpted animal figures in order to ensure the trade was adapting to the changing times.

A landmark year as we were able to purchase a Jeep for official use. The Jeep marked our significant growth and a symbol of all our combined efforts.

This is a micro credit system in which the women act as their own bank. The objective of this is to inculcate the habit of saving amongst the women and build a community fund to fall back on enabling them to get instant loans for building homes, weddings, and children’s education. Since the women come from underprivileged backgrounds, it was not easy for them to get traditional bank loans. Today, there are nine such groups that meet once a month.

More than 300 women from 3 villages, namely Sherpur, Khilchipur and Kutalpura, were trained to create export quality quilting and patchwork products thereby increasing our outreach.

2000 was a year of excitement as we opened a new retail outlet on the Main Road of Sawai Madhopur, and also received significant work for soft furnishings from various hotels.

We entered the era of technology by acquiring a computer.

Under the AHVY scheme (Development Commissioner Handicrafts) we received a grant to set up a common facility center for training, storing equipment, and infrastructure for the Kendra. Generator, computers, washing plant, RO water treatment plant, automatic sewing machines and cutting machines were put in place. This paved the way for increased productivity resulting in more work for the women.

Dastkar Ranthambhore finally gets established as an independent enterprise and is now registered under the society act. In keeping with the times, we computerized our accounts and inventory. This was also when artisans became part of our board.

This is also the year where we have adopted the tiger as our logo, our mascot, and our symbol.

We standardized our products by training artisans to use automatic machines and become master tailors in making patterns thereby regulating sizing in garments and hence improving quality.

Our artisans now get covered under Provident Fund Scheme and thus receive a 12% benefit on their earnings.

Engagement with an American NGO, ‘Aid to Artisans’ led to our first export order. This is when we learned to work with designers who taught us to look at artisanal skills with a different approach. We showcased our collections at the New York Gift Fair which translated into an order for Rs.57, 000. This was followed by many more showcases at alternate trade shops such as ‘Ten Thousand Villages’ and ‘Global Exchange’.

Under the funding of the British Council, a new collaboration with the University of Northumbria in U.K. and the Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi, began. This in turn enabled us to expand our reach into additional villages with the aim of providing more women with the opportunity at gaining economic independence. We were also able to set up our second center at Kundera village with additional 50 trained women. Furthermore, the collaboration also provided us with the platform to explore new markets in other metro cities.

We learnt how to use rags and scrap materials that were available in plenty to design a range of toy animals that proved to be economically, socially and environmentally successful and thus generated work for the women of Rawal village.

During this year, we gained the patent rights of using the tiger as our logo.

In the fiscal year 2009 - 2010, the project reached a major milestone by crossing a crore in sales. The spurt in sales was because of a new business opportunity presented by the advent of The Overseas Adventure and Travel Company which brought in busloads of tourists to the Kendra.

The founding women of Dastkar Ranthambhore celebrated the one crore mark by flying to Srinagar. This was a memorable year for many as most women were flying for the first time as well as experienced snow for the first time too.

After 21 years of hard work, the women of Dastkar Ranthambhore have a place which belongs to them. This was made possible with the help of a substantial donation we received from the Hemendar Kothari Foundation.

With hovering uncertainties about the legal existence of the national park, we were forced to look at alternative source of income for our 350 women and hence initiated the process of joining the web.

We began the year by commencing work in a new village, Padali, where the predominant talent was recycling and embroidering cement sacks and fertilizer bags to make a new range of products. Currently, we are working on a new footwear range for export to Belgium.