Digital Upskilling of Rural Women Artisans in Karnataka by NASSCOM foundation and Tisser

Digital Upskilling of Rural Women Artisans in Karnataka by NASSCOM foundation and Tisser

Project Overview

  • Name of the project: Digital Upskilling of Rural Women Artisans in Karnataka by NASSCOM foundation and Tisser
  • Location (cluster or region): Karnataka (Ramnagar and Raichur)
  • Project duration (start and end dates): April 2023 – March 2024

Project Summary:

The “Digital Upskilling of Rural Women Artisans in Karnataka” project was a year-long initiative aimed at empowering 180 rural women artisans in Raichur, Karnataka. By enhancing their digital and financial literacy, providing entrepreneurship training, and raising awareness about government schemes, the project sought to bridge the digital divide and open up new opportunities for these women to improve their livelihoods.

Key Activities:

  • Digital Literacy: Training in basic computer skills, internet usage, and social media platforms.
  • Financial Literacy: Education on financial management, savings, and investment strategies.
  • Government Schemes: Awareness and guidance on government schemes and subsidies relevant to the artisans.
  • Entrepreneurship Development: Training in business planning, marketing, and customer engagement.

Beneficiaries:

  • Number of Beneficiaries: Approximately 330
  • Demographic Breakdown: Primarily women artisans aged 20-50 years.

Training and Capacity Building:

  • Number of Training Programs: Approximately 22 batches.
  • Skills Imparted: Digital literacy, financial literacy, government schemes, and entrepreneurship development.
  • Total Number Trained: 330

Impact Metrics:

  • Socio-Economic Impact: Improved livelihoods for 330 rural artisans.
  • Environmental Impact: Potential for increased adoption of sustainable practices and eco-friendly products.

Financial Data

  • Project Funding: Rs 20,24,214
  • Funds Utilized: All funds were utilized effectively, and a Utilization Certificate was provided to the funder by the finance department.

Collaborations:

  • Local skill building government office in Raichur.

Case Studies

Tulsi, a 32-year-old woman from Raichur, has faced significant financial challenges alongside her family. Originally from Mumbai, Tulsi moved to Raichur after marriage and began working in embroidery to supplement her family’s income. For four years, she has been creating embroidered products, though her customer base has remained local due to limited resources and exposure.

Tulsi’s family mainly relies on her husband’s monthly income of Rs. 10,000 from his job as a clerk. With three children to care for and household responsibilities to juggle, she finds it challenging to balance family life and her craft. Additionally, the family is burdened by loans, which they continue to pay off with assistance from relatives. Driven by a desire to contribute more financially and ease the burden on her husband, Tulsi is eager to improve their financial situation.

While she is proficient with smartphones and familiar with apps like Amazon for shopping and WhatsApp for communication, Tulsi lacks knowledge on how to leverage these tools for business. This lack of financial support and business confidence, despite her husband’s encouragement, has left her feeling hesitant to start a new venture.