KHAMIR Kachchh Heritage Art Music Information and Resources Key Issues and
Operational Areas, Major Activiities & Achivements
Operational Districts: Kachchh
Operational States: GUJARAT
AchieveMents: About KHAMIR
Khamir is a non-profit working with traditional artisan communities of Kachchh since its inception post-earthquake 2001. The organization was established by Nehru Foundation for Development (NFD) and Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan (KNNA) with a goal to revive and reposition the traditional crafts and creative industries through empowerment of tradition artisans of Kutch.
1. Sectoral interventions
1.1 GI for Kutch shawls: KHAMIR played key role in registration of Kutch shawl under the Geographical indications act. The 350 weavers of Kutch have organized themselves under the banner of a community based organization ââ¬ËKutch Weavers Association (KWA)ââ¬â¢ to receive GI tag.
1.2 Water security for block printers: Looking at the issues of water quality and quantity in the block printing crafts, KHAMIR initiated a study of the overall water security of two key block print clusters. The interventions has been planned after intervention.
1.3 Credit support: KHAMIR initiated a research study with copper bell artisans to understand their livelihood related issues. Khamir initiated its credit and social security programmes. Under credit program, the artisans were linked with Pahal Micro-finance to avail short term micro loans.
1.4 Health and education initiatives: The health is a crucial issues with vulnerable artisan groups like lacquer artisans. Organization is working with them on hands on basis to provide quality services during their and health issues and emergencies.
1.5 Technological interventions: The copper coated bell craft of Kutch requires different technological attentions due to issues associated with it. The problems of occupations hazards, lead content into the bells, the design of kiln etc. have been studied.
1.6 Craft workshops and craft education: KHAMIR is conducting craft workshops to spread knowledge and skill of crafts among students, visitors, young designers and general masses. The workshops provide hands on experience to the craft practices while spreading awareness about the same.
2. General interventions across the crafts
2.1 Design interventions: The design interventions of KHAMIR are in the areas of textile and hard material crafts. The extensive interventions were carried out in the crafts like leather, lacquer, copper bell and pottery with an aim to diversify the current product ranges.
2.2 Value chain innovations in crafts: The initiative was started with recycling the plastic waste through weaving skills which was followed by interventions in the areas of Kala cotton. The Kala cotton is an indigenous variety of cotton which Khamir started converting into yarn. The yarn is given to weavers to weaving. The third initiative in this row is camel wool value chain, where Khamir is trying to create a range of beautiful products out of wool of Kachchhi camels.
2.3 Curated exhibitions: The first exhibition ââ¬ÅTextile legacies of Kachchh and Sindhââ¬Â was organized in year 2011-12. The textiles created by artisans of Kachchh and Sindh have been displayed with authentic information. Khamir organized a second exhibition on the theme of ââ¬ÅBandhani of Kachchh: Ties across timesââ¬Â in year 2012-13. Khamir is planning to hold an exhibition on block print and batik print crafts in year 2013-14.
