Research Insights

Our Findings

Explore the key insights from our research into Kalamkari art and artisan communities. We present data, analysis, and recommendations based on extensive fieldwork and study.

• Women make up 80.6% of the artisan workforce, showing a strong female presence in the Kalamkari ecosystem.

• This indicates that Kalamkari is a significant source of employment and empowerment for women, particularly housewives.

• A staggering 90.3% of artisans work under informal arrangements, with no legal contracts.

• This leaves them without social security, job protection, or stable benefits, making them economically vulnerable despite full-time work.

• Only 30.6% of respondents possess Artisan Cards, which are essential for accessing government schemes and training programs.

• The lack of access to these cards significantly limits artisans' opportunities for support, recognition, and career advancement.

• 90.3% of artisans are paid in cash, followed by small percentages receiving bank transfers or UPI payments.

• This reliance on cash limits financial transparency, makes savings difficult, and excludes artisans from formal financial systems.

• 96.8% of artisans depend solely on Kalamkari for their livelihood, with only 3.2% having alternate sources of income.

• This underscores the craft’s economic significance but also highlights artisans' financial vulnerability if the industry declines.

• A majority (64.5%) joined through word of mouth, while formal recruitment efforts are minimal (14.5%).

• This points to the informal and community-driven nature of workforce expansion in Kalamkari, which may limit diversity and outreach.

• Only 25.8% of artisans have received formal certification, while 74.2% rely on informal training.

• The absence of structured training can hinder skill development and quality control, especially among younger artisans.

• Just 11% of artisans are even aware of government or NGO welfare schemes, and only one has benefited from them.

• This shows a severe lack of outreach and accessibility, with most artisans missing out on valuable support mechanisms.

Our Analysis

Our analysis delves into the livelihood of Kalamkari artisans across different organizational structures, comparing traditional independent artisans with those working in cooperatives and modern workshops.