Project Hunar

IIFL Foundation partnered with Banglanatak, a cultural and upskilling organization, to provide skill-based training to 220 rural women artisans in appliqué work in the border district of Barmer, Rajasthan. Project Hunar was inaugurated on November 28, 2024 . It aims to empower women appliqué artists across five villages—Dhanau, Alamsar, Sawa, Itada, and Burhan ka Tala—in the Chohtan block by enhancing their skills, preserving their craft, and fostering self-reliance through market access and financial literacy. It stood as a catalyst for change in the aspiration district of Barmer. It’s part of the IIFL Foundation’s effort to support small entrepreneurs and the local economy in the border districts of India. Central to the project is the Training of Trainers (ToT) program held from November 11–30, 2024, where 25 women artists from the five villages received hands-on training from experts like designer Abhijit Sardar, Kasidakari artist Mahendra Kumar, and local master artist Harchand Kaga. During the Maru Udan Festival, seven women from Chohtan showcased their work, gained exposure, and registered in the district artisan directory. The recognition of their craft by officials, including Barmer District Magistrate Tina Dabi, reflected the transformative potential of this initiative. Beyond Barmer, the IIFL Foundation has supported multiple projects in hospitality and retail training for young local students and entrepreneurs in the border districts of Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.