KADAM

Year

2012-13

44B, Syed Amir Ali Avenue,

1st Floor

Kolkata- 700017

info@kadamindia.org

www.kadamindia.org

Letter From the Vice President

According to the ILO study, 75 million youth were unemployed in 2011 globally where 34% of

the employers were unable to find sustainable employees. One solution is education for

employability and another is for creating skills and environment for SELF-EMPLOYABILITY.

We, at Kadam and Kadam-Haat offer a combination of both to our rural youth and women.

Our objective is to reach out to as many village artisans we can & provide them the

opportunity for creating their own self sustainable livelihood solution using organic methods

and materials locally available and this year our own efforts in the form of a CRAFTS

ASHRAM, were finally given shape and even recognized by media by being nominated for

the AMAZING INDIAN AWARD.

According to W.B. statistics, 43% of our state’s population comprises of 15-39 year olds. This

year too was dedicated mainly for creating “skills and congenial environment” for youth and

ladies. We build trainings for youth and women, water and electricity was also provided for all

at their respective villages.

PAYAL NATH

KADAM

ANNUAL REPORT OF KADAM for 2012-2013

26 April’2006 Kadam registered itself as a Society

under West Bengal Societies Act XXVI of 1961-

Regd No: - S/1L/36404 of 2006-2007.

This is an NGO for the people of the villages of

Rural India which comprise 69% of our country

and 68% in West Bengal. Our work this year was

primarily in West Bengal.

From, A Study on Rural West Bengal and Orissa

By Amita Majumder, Chiranjib Neogi (Indian

Statistical Institute) & Manisha Chakrabarty (Indian

Institute of Management, Calcutta- from the point

of view of a policy planner, the only way to

alleviate poverty for the group was external

assistance, like infrastructural facilities, since

efficiency of the group as selected was high in

West Bengal & majority of the 50 households with

high efficiency after calculation based on certain

norms was concentrated in 5 districts (out of 17

districts) that had comparatively low values of the

infrastructure index, Midnapore (East & West )

being among the 5. Also in Rural West Bengal,

the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe

(ST) households had significantly higher level

of efficiency than the households of other

castes.

KADAM

OUR METHOD & AREA OF OPERATION-

•From the researchers conclusions and our experience

of operating in a certain sector for some time, we devise

methods suitable for each adopted area we work on

individually. But on a broader perspective, we follow a

certain method as below in norm with our mission

which is-

We at Kadam aim at tackling the problems of little or

uneducated youth migration to urban cities which lead to

the problems of Urban Slums, unemployment, rampant

violence and street children being a direct fall-out of this

migration.

• To tackle this at the grassroot level, we try to create

viable employment opportunities at the village level for

the youth and for children, good education conditions.

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• To create employment opportunities, our volunteers

and professionals work towards creating small/medium

enterprises leading to greater utilization of local

resources and to teach skilled artisan’s basic

professionalism – concept of quality and commitment

– an essential requirement to sustain themselves

economically well.

• Initially for setting an example of success, we take a

smaller group with high efficiency, after training and

helping sell their produce through marketers, roll back

the profits from their produce back in their village for

infrastructural development, creating a ripple effect.

(Map of West Bengal)

1. East Midnapore

2. West Midnapore

CURRENT AREAS OF OPERATION-

Out of our Country’s 5.94lakh villages , maximum villages have SC/ST population and tribals.

The Tribes of West Bengal are mostly Farmers but many of them are engaged in carpentry, hunting,

weaving, fishing etc. Some of the tribes are adept in Art & Craft and these embellish the cottage

industry of the state and are the spine of the economy of the rural provinces.

2% of West Bengal’s population is combining approx 38 types of tribals.

KADAM

Going with the philosophy of KADAM-

We adopt a craft cluster; nurture it with its needs/

requirements special to the region required for a wholistic

development of the cluster to be ABLE TO MAKE A

DISTINCTIVE IMPACT.

We worked on 4 clusters this year and will be working on

the 1st 3 clusters in this current year 2013-14-

1. Block Kolaghat, Village Aror, KumarHat, Diglabar, Ghatal

East Midnapore

2. Block Nayagram,( near Kharagpur),

West Midnapore

3. Block NarayanGarh ( Belda), 8 villages initially,

West Midnapore

4. Ragurajpur Village, Puri District, Orissa

KADAM

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN IN 2012-13

1. Block Kolaghat, Village Aror & KumarHat, Diglabar East Midnapore

a) Training on Bamboo Weaving techniques

An intern from IICD ( Indian Institute of Craft & Design , Jaipur interned with us in November & December 2012 and trained

bamboo weaving artisans – 12 people some new techniques of weaving. Later these were converted into trays & mats.

b) Training on Bamboo home utility products

Even they were trained to package these newly designed products. Mrs. Anindita Dass

13 kms away from Kumar hat village, in Diglabar where primarily lower caste people live, the women artisans

weave bamboo baskets for a living now, they are being trained with new techniques for weaving bamboo mats

and had requested for a water pump . So in a common space a Tubewell was dug at 442 ft and now fresh

bore well water available for all of the para people- about more than 200 in number. Thanks to Mohan for his

hard work.

c) Tubewell installation in Village Diglabar, Sidha Block, Purva Midnapore,

KADAM

Before installation of

tubewell

During Iistallation of tubewell After installation of

tubewell

d) Geetanjali Solar Enterprises Light Installation in Anganwadi Primary School Village Aror

About 56 children of ages 2-5 years, study in this school. It has 2 classrooms and have no electricity. We

had installed for the water a tubewell in the school area last year. This year we have put solar lights & fans in

the 2 classrooms with the help of “Geetanjali Solar Enterprises.”

KADAM

No electricity in classrooms Repairing commences Electricity restored

e) Anganwadi School, Village Aror Renovation

In the village Aror , which KADAM has been associated with, the school where electricity was installed, 8 benches

and floor mats for the children were donated. 2 tables & 2 chairs were made for the teachers.

KADAM

Anganwadi School, Village

Aror

Classroom with chairs &

benches

f) Bamboo Curtain Training in Village Ghatal,

A village where women are already semi skilled in making agarbatti sticks and wanted a new avenue for a better

employability, we had a trainer Mr. Shantanu Sarkar who along with local artisans trained 19 women & 6-7 youth

on stick preparation for making bamboo curtains. Later a loom was donated after specially designing for the

purpose of weaving these bamboo sticks for curtain making.

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KADAM

a) Training on sabaii grass Product & design Development

Combining grasses in different colors with fabric handles and linings… Bag designing

was taught to the women artisans.

Our Volunteer Ms. Anindita dass was supervising the product development.

2. Block Nayagram,( near Kharagpur), West Midnapore

KADAM

b) Sewing machines were distributed to women in the Village Nayagram

Monjushree Giri & Jayshree Giri from Village Kharikamathani

3. Block NarayanGarh ( Belda), 8 villages initially, West Midnapore

a) Construction of the Crafts Ashram

Guest rooms, Office rooms, training hall, bathrooms and kitchen was made ready for use . Now only the Mud

House BLOCK is left to be renovated.

The Consortium had their AGM too in Feburary 1st week to discuss firther progress and trainings to be held in

the coming year.

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.According to the survey done last year, the data as collected below:- In the coming year we will start trainings in 2 crafts

and install 3 basic machines for the purpose for which we have got the finance from German Consulate Kolkata office

A Field Survey was done as assisted by AIACA and implemented on field by Sumanta Rai for collecting data on the 6

crafts as practiced in that Block and the 98 craftsmen& women in 8 villages in NarayanGarh Block. The Survey completed

assimilation of data on the demography, location, household details, occupation, income, craft experiences and concerns.

Bamboo craft, Mat making, Pottery, Sabaii Grass, Weaving and Blacksmithery were the crafts as identified after the Field

Survey and documentation of the analysis was done after compiling the findings by AIACA ( All India Artisans and

Craftsperson's Association).

The findings were very interesting ( as given to us by AIACA-

1. Gender wise, 70% male and 30% female artisans involve in bamboo craft production.

2. In Sabaii grass craft, 100% of the artisans are female.

3. In Mat making, 82% of the total artisans are male and 18% are female.

4. In pottery and blacksmithery, 100% artisans are males. ( people in both craft forms are in a bad shape economically).

5. 90% of the artisans involved in weaving are male and 10% are female.

The average annual income of the artisans from craft is Rs. 19400 (as per records, 19449) and Rs. 18600

(as per records, 18640) from other sources.

The average annual expenditure of the artisans is,

1. on food Rs. 22900 (as per records 22968)

2. on cloth Rs. 2500(as per records, 2555),

3. on medical facilities Rs. 2100 (as per records 2193),

4. on education Rs. 3100 (as per records, 3127),

5. and on others Rs. 2200 (as per records 2226).

99% of the artisans use traditional technology and only 1% of the artisans use both traditional and modern technology

of production. The average value output from the production is Rs 44081 annually. The average gross income of

the artisans is Rs. 17533 annually and the net income is Rs. 16618 annually.

A majority of 98% artisans sell their product in the local market and only 2 % of them sell their product in regional

and national markets.

Block NarayanGarh ( Belda), 8 villages initially, West Midnapore

Name of Block with Number of Artisans

Name of Craft Block Number of Artisans

Sabai Craft Keshiary 21

Blacksmith Belda, Narayangarh 6

Weaving Narayangarh 10

Mat Making Narayangarh 22

Bamboo Craft Belda,, Keshiary 28

Pottery Belda 11

TOTAL 98

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KADAM

4. Rahurajpur Village, Puri Disctrict, Orissa

JPM Rotary Eye Hospital guided by Mr. Alok Sahoo conducted the Eye Camp on 10th March, 2013. 200

people had attended the camp. The rural people were checked for cataract and other eye related diseases

and patients were treated accordingly. Our Volunteer Mrs. Sharmistha Patra organized and conducted the

whole program with the local partners at village level as well as Rotary Cuttack. Thanks to Mohan also for

his efforts.

Mr. Alok Sahoo

from JPM Rotary

Eye Hospital

Patients being treated

We are very thankful for the same since with this arrangement we have been able run our Volunteer

office in Salt Lake now for the last 3 years .We now have an office assistant on our payroll and also a

slightly bigger space .

2. We also thank all our members and professionals who have supported and guided us with their efforts for

our upcoming much awaited project- CRAFTS ASHRAM . This year we have been able to create

awareness about this project … With our participation in Mahindra Rise – spark the rise- we were among

the top selected Organizations in our field and made a presentation in Mahindra Towers on the project to

jury members who are investors in projects/

3. We have applied to Coal India CSR for Crafts Ashram Project and await a response from them.

4. Some new Voluntary members joined us this year and we have had tremendous support from them.

Thank you all our volunteers.

5. This year interns from IICD, Jaipur, NIFT, Kolkata , and 1 from Germany also worked with us on some of

our projects. And for coming year, we have enrolled ourselves with AISEC also.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

1. We are thankful to our funders- Maier & Vidorno group of companies , a Gurgaon based Company and

offer our gratitude to them.

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.

6. Kadam-Haat, offering a marketing platform to the adopted village communities has been able to sell

goods in more than 20 exhibitions in about 9 cities, combining upto 80% of the produce from all 3

adopted goods producing clusters and further donated a good sum to KADAM for its projects this

year too.

7. HILLARY CLINTON’S VISIT TO INDIA

On the 6th and 7th May, 2013, the Kadam team

had the privilege of meeting US Secretary of

State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton.

As part of her 3 nation tour including China

and Bangladesh, Mrs. Hillary Clinton had

arrived in Kolkata, India on the 6th of April,

2013. Here she visited the ICCR (Indian

Council for Cultural Relations) in order to meet

the NGOs who work against Human

Trafficking.

We among other NGOs were chosen to

showcase our products as made by the

selected village communities with whom we

work. We were also invited to meet Mr. Dean

Thompson , the US Consul General and his

team, here in Kolkata.

Overall, Mrs. Clinton had appreciated the role

of community development, saying that a

village can change a village. She was very

happy with the active work being done by the

NGOs.

• Mrs. Payal Nath was invited as a speaker at the

Asian Regional Symposium organized by the

GNFF at the Hotel Lalit Ashok Bangalore from

25th September to 27th September, 2013. She

spoke about Kadam and how it encourages the

artisans from the rural parts of India to take up

this trade and live sustainably. The artisans are

trained and are taught how to make utility

products through the use of natural materials

like “Sabaii Grass” , “Bamboo” and “Coconut”.

This will in-turn teach the rural people about

craft and once the trade learnt, they could be

independent entrepreneurs.

• Directors and Scientists from different

organizations working with natural fiber like

Industree Crafts Foundation, Natura Fibretech,

Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts,

Malaysian Timber Industry Board, Navasari Agri.

University were other major participants of that

event. The Global Natural Fibre Forum (GNFF)

is an information hub on natural fibres, its

mission is to nurture and grow natural fibre

businesses worldwide

8. KADAM PARTICIPATED IN THE ASIAN

REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE GNFF

(GLOBAL NATURAL FIBRE FORUM)

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9. KADAM WAS INTERVIEWED

BY TIMES NOW

The Amazing Indians episode had

selected Mrs. Payal Nath for an

interview.

The show is telecasted on

weekends on the famous news

channel, Times Now. It is about

how regular Indians through their

hard work and dedication try and

make the country a better place to

live in.

They asked her questions about

Kadam and its goals in today’s

world and what its strategies were

in order to make the rural life of

India sustainable.

Overall it was a good interview and

Kadam is selected as a nominee for

the “Amazing Indian”

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10. MARKET CONNECTIVITY PROGRAMMES

No. Date Name of Exhibtion City

2012

1 April Aica (Craft Mark) Delhi

2 April Sterling Exbn Kolkata

3 April Lifestyle Exbn Gurgaon

4 April Parampara Exbn Kolkata

5 June Akarshan Exbn Kolkata

6 Aug Innerwheel Club Rotary Kolkata

7 Sept Dastkar Exbn Bangalore

8 Sept Crafts Council Of West Bengal Kolkata

9 Sept Jagriti Exbn Kolkata

10 Oct American Centre Exbn Kolkata

11 Oct Crafts Council Of India Exbn Chennai

12 Oct Hast Karigar Society Exbn Mumbai

13 Oct Dastkar Nature Bazar Exbn Delhi

14 Dec Living Free Exbn Kolkata

2013

15 Jan Tempation Exbn Kolkata

16 Jan Dastkari Haat Exbn Delhi

17 Jan Denoise Exbn Jaipur

18 Feb Sanatkada Fair Lucknow

19 Feb Kalagodha Fair Mumbai

20 Feb Ahmebad Sns Glitterati Ahmebad

21 March Crafts Bazar Karnataka

KADAM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank all working members and volunteers who take out time from their

professions and busy lives and volunteer to work for the benefit of the part of our

society who live below poverty line..

Thank you sponsors

for your support to make these efforts realize into reality.

KADAM

Special Thanks to Our local Funders & Stall Sponsoring Agencies:-

• Maier+Vidorno Marketing & Sales Pvt Ltd, Gurgaon

• Maier+Vidorno Market development Services Pvt. Ltd, Gurgaon

• Phoenix Conveyor Belt India (P) Ltd

• Vikas Chadha – Starling Media

• Mr. Rainer Schmiedchen , Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany

• Small Contributions from various Organizations

I, on behalf of KADAM TEAM thank all active members for their active participation

and all other members for their support to achieve our goal of helping create SELF

SUSTAINABLE villages in Rural India via Craft led livelihood solutions.

Payal Nath

(Secretary- KADAM) 16 April 2013