CAG 2023-24
BARGAT COLLECTIVE
Manisha
Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Led by social worker and community artist Manisha Chawdhury, a group of young women have been working to make utilitarian products from locally sourced pine needles, in their villages in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.
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Having worked with feminist grassroots organisations earlier, Manisha decided to begin this collective during lockdown, as she saw women finding it especially hard to make ends meet, and look after the expenses of their children.
Over the past three years, women from across two villages in Kangra have been meeting regularly at each others homes to co-learn pine needle crafting, led by Manisha.
Hailing from Ladwara village in Kangra, over the course of the Artreach Community Grant, Manisha was able to grow her collective in her village to 11 regular members, and additionally train 9 women in neighbouring Baithjikli village as well.
The women have gone through leadership workshops, expressive arts sessions and learnt skills in creating boxes, coasters, table mats and jewellery from pine needles. They have also learnt how to manage finances and basic office administration.
Pine needles are collected by the women from their neighbouring hill forests, dried and slowly woven into a variety of products
At the end of this project period, Manisha and her team organised an Open Day Exhibition in Ladwara, attended by the entire village, and those from Baithjikli as well. They showcased their products, talked of the learning and achievements in the process and danced together and also ate local pahari delicacies!
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​This programme was supported in partnership with Royal Enfield.
As part of this programme Bargat held its first village exhibition, with all the women and the whole village coming together which was hugely encouraging.
About the grantee
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Manisha Chowdhury has a Masters in Social Work from IGNOU and has worked with organisations for women's rights in Himachal Pradesh such as Jagori. In 2021 Manisha initiated Bargat Collective, to work with making pine needle craft work, in her village Ladwara, Kangra District, Himachal. They have produced a variety of products and exhibited their work in Himachal and Delhi. Manisha is also a part of Dharchidi Collective, a collective of working women based out of Himachal.
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