Lata Kachhawaha is a women of substance leading from the front in Barmer to empower 15000 rural women who are now selling their embroidery to foreign clients, earning a global identity in Kashidakari, a traditional form of handicraft which has been passed down through generations.
This kind of embroidery is used to decorate shawls, handkerchiefs, bed covers, cushions and bags, among a host of other items.
According to Lata who is associated with Sure (Society to Uplift Rural Economy, “Barmer, three years ago, was quite different as there were very few women working in fields. So bringing out women to fields to work was quite challenging but it was not impossible,” she says.
She said, “We started imparting training to women from Barmer villages in groups counting to 100-150 and 200 and in the next 20 years, this number touched 15,000. These women have been linked to different groups/markets to sell their work and earn a decent living. Our women are now trained in quality maintenance and fixing costs in the international market.”
In fact, this art has also brought fame and laurels in foreign countries as the products made using this embroidery have been showcased in countries such as Germany, Japan, Singapore and Sri Lanka in various exhibitions.
Today, renowned brands such as Fabindia, Ikea, and Rangsutra get a large part of their material from the women of the Meghwal community in Barmer.
Most of these women are adept in kashidakari embroidery and are from the Meghwal community whose families had settled here post the 1971 Indo-Pak war.