The Art Of Hand Block Printing

Wooden Block Printing on Cotton Bags with Women

In the 21^st Century, modern business organisations no longer work in isolation. Their activities have an effect on consumers, shareholders, suppliers, employees and the society at large. Corporations depend on society and draw from society in the form of roads, educated workforce, railways, electricity, water resources and land. Thus, it is their duty to contribute to the society too.

Accordingly, the main objective of corporations is no longer profit maximization. In today’s age of corporate ethics development, it is the responsibility of organisations to properly utilize the resources for the development of the community. There is a pressing need to focus on accountability on the part of corporations not only on what is important for the shareholders but the society as a whole. This is what has led to the emergence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

iVolunteer and RBL bank’s CSR team joined hand together to do an activity on woodblock printing with the women of Swami Sivananda Memorial Institute (SSMI) to give back to the society. The activity was focused on Women empowerment, understanding the fundamentals of the organization and to do Wooden block printing on cotton bags. This little contribution in India’s social development stand with the vision of.

1. To provide an opportunity to the volunteers to showcase their creativity and skills for the benefit of the society.
2. To rejuvenates the traditional art of handprints with improved technology in natural dyeing and handprint techniques.
3. To know about the community service and the skill development training of women.
4. To promote the Reduce Reuse and Recycle 3Rs by using the printed cotton bag.

Social impact being created by the NGO

The volunteer learned about the organisation-SSMI their work on providing Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) – a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, popularly known as the Mid-Day Meals Scheme (MDMS), worked in the field of education, Building awareness and community involvement, Training and building capacities to the local community, working in the field of vocational training encouraging the use of cotton instead using polyethene and how they encourage traditional way of printing by using block printing.

Activity Impact on NGO

With a basic objective the activity of women empowerment on various aspects of handicrafts, NP-NSPE, MDMS, 30 women artisans were benefitted as well as the organization.  This initiative rejuvenates the traditional art of handprints with improved technology in natural dyeing and handprint techniques on fabrics ranging hosiery to silk, crape, jute, cotton and tussar and improve the present levels of income & socio-economic status of artisans of SSMI.

“Traditionally, in India, block printing is dominated by men. Through this project, many women get trained as both artisans and designers. In India, women play a vital role in both craft production and design across all disciplines. This legacy will be continued through this block print project as SSMI is dedicated to providing vocational trading to the poor local families.”

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.