| Total population | 200 |
| Total family | 35 |
| Main occupation | Stone Handicraft |
| Total artisan linked with Stone Handicraft | 22 |
| Other occupations | Farming |
| Stone Handicraft products | Flower pot, Mobile stand, Photo frame, Mandir, Jewllery box, Poja Thali, Choki Ganesh,Pen stand, Photo frame and other product according to demand of market |
| Major Market | Agra, Delhi, Jaipur |
Chak Bahnera is a small village in Sewar block of Bharatpur district and is situated along the Agra-Bikaner national highway. The village has only 35 households with a population of 200. In recent years, village has become famous for its Marble handicraft.
Most of the youth from the village are engaged in production of marble artifacts like – lamp sheds, gate lamps, lanterns, photo frames, Jewellary boxes, mobile stands, watch stands, flower pots, plates, Surai (old fashioned containers to serve liquor), wall hangings etc. these artifacts are sent to the markets in Agra, Jaipur and Delhi. The demand for these marble handicrafts is growing day by day not only in India but also in foreign countries.
Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation (LHWRF) is helping these artisans in many ways. With the help of SIDBI, it has extended loan to the artisans. Self Help Groups of artisans have been formed. Training workshops are organized for youth and are encouraged to undertake self employment. Now women from the village are also being trained. Prepared artifacts are sent to Jaipur for painting. Efforts are on to paint the artifacts within village itself which will give women and youth additional employment. LHWRF is sending these artisans to State and National level handicraft Melas. Plans are also on to open the showroom on the national highway and near the Keoldeo National Park.
| Total population | 940 |
| Total family | 135 |
| Main occupation | Tulsi Mala and Gems Cutting and Polishing |
| Total artisan linked with Tulsi Mala . | 80 |
| Total artisan linked with Gems Cutting and Polishing | 120 |
| Other occupations | Farming |
| products | Various Types of Tulsi mala and Precious stone |
| Major Market | Mathura, Brandavan, Gujrat, Goverdhan, Jaipur |
Kheriya Purohit is a village in Deeg block of Bhartpur district with a population of 940. This village has become famous for its Tulsi Maala and gems cutting business. The village has just 135 households but at least one member from each household is associated with these activities. Story of village Kheriya Purohit is interesting.
In 2004, Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation (LHWRF) started its development work in the village. Women self-help groups were organized. Women opted for Tulsi maala making as income generation activity. Training workshops were organized for women. Loan was made available to women with the help of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK). Earlier women used to purchase tulasi sticks for making mala from Jait village in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. But purchasing raw material became costlier. LHWRF encouraged village farmers to cultivate tulasi for making malas. Today 50 bigha land from the village is under tulasi cultivation. It is not only fulfilling the need of the village artisans but farmers are also selling it to other villages. Thus giving them additional income.
Today 80 women from the village are engaged in the activity. Tulasi malas are sent to the markets like Mathura, Vrundavan, Gowardhan and other religious places. On average, each woman earns Rs. 6000/- per month. Thus Tulasi mala making has not only given opportunity for self-employment but it has also put money into the hands of women.
For providing self-employment opportunity to rural youth LHWRF initiated training workshops on “Gems Cutting and Polishing” in KheriyaPurohit. For purchasing machinery and raw material LHWRF also provided loan of Rs. 20000/- to 25000/- to young entrepreneurs with the help of SIDBI. Today 120 young professionals are engaged in gems cutting activity. These young entrepreneurs are earning Rs. 15000/- to 30000/- per month.
This gainful self-employment has also stopped the outmigration to cities like Jaipur, Agra, Mathura and Delhi.
| Total population | 2150 |
| Total family | 295 |
| Main occupation | Gems Cutting and Polishing and Artificial Chain Making |
| Total artisan linked Artificial Chain Making | 70 |
| Total artisan linked with Gems Cutting and Polishing | 176 |
| Other occupations | Farming |
| products | Precious Stone and Artificial Chain Making |
| Major Market | Jaipur |
Nagla Dhakad and Sirsiyan are the villages under Itamada Grampanchayat of Wair tahsil in Bharatpur district. These village have become hub for gems cutting.
Ten years ago these were agrarian villages with most of the population engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry activities. Young people were not interested in agriculture, they were out migrating in search of good job.
To make available self-employment to youth in these villages, Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation (LHWRF) introduced training on “Gems Cutting and Polishing”. Youth in the villages welcomed it. Trained youth were given loans through SIDBI for purchasing raw material and machinery.
Seeing the success of the enterprises other youth also participated in the training programmes. It solved the problem of unemployment and also stopped out migration. Today 176 young professionals are engaged in the profession of gems cutting.
For engaging women in income generation, chain making workshops were organized by the LHWRF. It also made available loan for purchasing raw material and machinery. Today there are 70 women who are earning their livelihood through this activity.
There is great demand for gems polishing and chain making in national as well as international market. But availability of electricity is the main hurdle. In villages Nagla Dhakad and Sirsiyan electricity is available for 6 to 8 hours per day. To overcome the problem these artisans are using diesel generators which has increased the production cost and cut down the profit. LHWRF is encouraging artisans to use solar energy to run inverters / UPS.
| Total population | 1803 |
| Total family | 329 |
| Main occupation | Leather Jutti |
| Total artisan linked with lather Juti | 63 |
| Other occupations | Farming |
| products | Leather Jutti |
| Major Market | Nearby Villages and Semi Urban Area. |
Lalpur is a village in Nadbai Tahsil of District Bharatpur. It has 329 households with a population of 1800. The village has become famous for its leather shoes.
Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation (LHWRF) adopted the village and started its rural development programme. It organized training on ‘Leather Shoe Making’. Many unemployed youth participated in the training. With the help of SIDBI, loan was provided to the young artisans to start business. Within short duration Lalpur shoes got recognition from the customers. People from far off villages are visiting Lalpur for purchasing shoes.
LHWRF is helping artisans to get exposure in state and national level craft bazaars so that further market linkages could be developed.
There are 63 artisans who are earning their livelihood through this activity.
| Total population | 12728 |
| Total family | 2561 |
| Main occupation | Stone Carving |
| Total artisan linked with Stone Carving | 170 |
| Other occupations | Readymade Garment, Furniture and Farming |
| products | God Statue |
| Major Market | Jaipur, Delhi, Firozabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mumbai |
Village Roopnagar is 75 Km. away from district place Bharatpur. When you enter village you see the artisans engaged in preparing idols of gods and goddesses. It is really treat watch them carving out beautiful gods out of stones. The village has about 70 such enterprises and artisans work day and night.
It all started when Jagdish Chandra Sharma visited Jaipur in 1980 and was highly impressed with the art of stone carving. Tenth standard pass Jagdish decided to adopt this art. At that time one has to learn the skills without any remuneration for three years. Students were provided with two meals a day. Determined Jagdish learnt the skills with full dedication. After one year, his master was happy with his art. Jagdish narrated his familial conditions. He started getting Rs. 10/- per day. Jagdish completed three years and returned back to his native village Roopnagar.
Jagdish started his own enterprise. At that time stones had to be brought from the Jaipur. Jagdish needed capital for purchasing raw material. He approached banks in the district, none was willing to give loan to artisan like Jagdish. In 1990, Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation (LHWRF) started its community development programme. Seeing the talent of Jagdish LHWRF extended loan of Rs. 15000/- with collaboration of SIDBI. Within year Jagdish repaid the loan.
In 1996, LHWRF encouraged more artisans to take up loan in collaboration with the District Industrial Center and SIDBI. Roopnagar was selected as the ’Stone Cluster’. One year long training course was initiated with the help of ‘Bharatiya Shilpa Sansthan’. 25 young artisans completed the course. Department of Industries organized exposure visits to Kishangadh (Ajmer) and Sikandara (Dausa). Participants also learnt about preparing marble artifacts along with the stone carving.
In 2003, fifty artisans were given loan of Rs. 25000/- This loan was repaid in one year. They were extended second loan of Rs. 50000/- Thus artisans in Roopnagar flourished and produced very high quality idols.
Today, there are 20 shops in the village owned by the artisans like Jagdish. And 30 artisans are working in rented shops. In each shop there are about 6-7 artisans.
Jagdish has become icon for the youth. He is called for the consultations. Jagdish also enjoys teaching the skills in minute details. He says, “ Now no body likes to wait for three years. Artiste has to learn the skills without any remuneration for 6 months. He then starts selling idols. The average artiste earns Rs. 250/- while skillful artiste gets Rs. 400/-”
“I am trying to open new big showroom in the village. Today, idols are prepared and sent to Jaipur. There they paint it and then sell. Here in Roopnagar, idols are cheaper 30-40% than Jaipur market.”
Roopnagar has become famous for its idols of gods and goddesses. Customers from not only Rajasthan but also from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Assam, Maharashtra come here to purchase. Seeing the employment opportunity other villages in neighbor hood have also started following this path. Rajasthan government has decided to make Roopnagar – ‘Shilpa Gram’.
| Total population | 766 |
| Total family | 152 |
| Main occupation | Mudda Making |
| Total artisan linked with Mudda Making | 34 |
| Other occupations | Farming |
| products | Mudda’s of Various Shape and size |
| Major Market | Near by Villages and Semi Urban Areas |
Chak nagala Beeja village in Roopwas tahsil of Bhartapur district is famous for its ‘Mudda’, which have also found market in Bharatpur city.
The village has 152 households with population of 766. Youth have found way to prosperity. Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation (LHWRF) organized workshop on “Mudda Making” where village youth participated. Loan to the tune of Rs. 10000/- to 15000/- was extended to them with the help of SIDBI. Today 34 artisans are preparing beautiful ‘Muddas’ using plastic wires. Each one is earning Rs. 10000/- to 15000/- per month. LHWRF is encouraging more and more youths to join the venture. ‘Mudda’ artisans are sent to state and national level exhibitions for getting experiences and new market opportunities.