THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 12, 2026

Women across Odisha are transforming traditional skills such as painting, stitching, food processing and handicraft-making into sustainable livelihoods and growing enterprises with support from Tata Steel Foundation (TSF), creating new market opportunities while preserving the state's rich cultural heritage.

Through women-led collectives such as Navjeevan, Srujanika and Gruhalaxmi in Jajpur, Gopalpur, Angul and Dhenkanal, hundreds of women are turning skills traditionally practised within households into viable businesses, securing institutional orders and gaining greater financial independence.

In Jajpur, around 85 women from Trijanga, Sansailo and Gobarghati have joined hands under Navjeevan to produce traditional art, apparel, jute products and Tassar-based items, among others. Their products have found markets through Tata Motors, TRIFED, TSUISL, TERI and local businesses.

Navjeevan's turnover nearly doubled from Rs 27.33 lakh in the 2024-25 financial year to Rs 52.95 lakh in 2025-26, reflecting the growing market reach of the collective.

For Birangi Jamuda of Gobarghati, the initiative has brought not only an additional source of income but also greater confidence and social recognition.

Her association with Navjeevan has enabled her to travel for learning opportunities, support her daughter's education and contribute financially to her family while sustaining her livelihood close to home.

Beyond enterprise development, Navjeevan is working to preserve Odisha's traditional art forms, particularly Soura art, by encouraging younger generations to carry the heritage forward. Two of its master craftspersons have been shortlisted for the State Award for Crafts.

In Gopalpur, Srujanika is combining tribal and traditional motifs with contemporary apparel and handicrafts to reach a wider market. Its turnover increased from Rs 3.7 lakh to Rs 14 lakh in a year, and the collective has set a target of Rs 75 lakh for the 2026-27 financial year.

Its products have reached institutions such as the Odisha Police, Indian Navy and Indian Army, besides gaining exposure at national platforms including the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Samvaad and Pallishree Mela.

A collaboration with Berhampur University is helping Srujanika connect Saura art with younger audiences and develop contemporary products inspired by traditional designs. The collective has also presented a handcrafted memento to President Droupadi Murmu.

In Angul and Dhenkanal, Gruhalaxmi has emerged as a women-led cooperative with more than 2,250 shareholders across 26 villages. More than 1,065 women have established enterprises in sectors such as dairy, poultry, tailoring, mushroom cultivation and food processing.

The cooperative also markets food and household products under the Gruhalaxmi brand, with its turnover crossing Rs 1 crore in the 2024-25 financial year.

For Padmini Senapati of Nuagaon in Dhenkanal, the initiative has strengthened her ability to meet her family's needs and contribute to its financial well-being. She said the cooperative had opened up opportunities ranging from training to serving customers across the region, benefiting not just individual members but the wider community.

The women are also exploring the use of technology to expand their entrepreneurial capabilities. Members of all three collectives were among more than 600 grassroots women facilitated by TSF to attend the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026, where they explored tools such as Gemini and ChatGPT for product ideation, design and communication.

The initiatives reflect a broader effort to link traditional knowledge with enterprise development, enabling women to access markets, strengthen household incomes and participate in business decisions while keeping local art forms and skills relevant to changing consumer demands.

TSF continues to support women as entrepreneurs, decision-makers and community leaders, with a focus on building sustainable livelihoods and strengthening women-led enterprises while preserving Odisha's cultural heritage.