Objectives

KADAM, a society registered in West Bengal in 2006, aims to create sustainable livelihood solutions through handicrafts, aligning with the spirit of the Convention on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). KADAM focuses on preserving and promoting Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Traditional Knowledge (TK), addressing issues such as community knowledge erosion and the availability of IK/TK skills, specifically targeting traditional arts and crafts. Our primary objectives include: 1. Skill Mapping and Group Formation: Identifying and mapping artisans' skills, forming teams based on specific crafts to ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency. 2. Skill & Product Development and Market Intelligence: Developing products that meet contemporary demands while preserving traditional craftsmanship through market insights and artisanal expertise. 3. Process Optimization for Marketability: Introducing processes that enhance production quality and reduce costs, making traditional crafts competitive in modern markets. 4. Economic Empowerment through Wage Maximization: Ensuring artisans are fairly compensated by maximizing wages through effective design and production processes, creating sustainable income streams. KADAM operates in West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and recently expanded to Bihar. Our projects, often in collaboration with the World Bank and various state governments, empower rural artisans, especially women and migrant workers, transforming them into successful entrepreneurs. Partnerships with HCL Foundation, HDFC Bank, and Tata Realty further our mission of social upliftment. Through KADAM HAAT, our Joint-Venture Marketing Partner, we ensure regular orders and sustainable monthly incomes for artisans, fostering economic independence and contributing to the larger goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Our commitment to these objectives demonstrates a deep alignment with the Convention's spirit of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

Cooperation

The Value Chain Development Process of KADAM is outlined below: 1. Community Mapping: Identifying and mapping the communities involved 2. Skill Assessment: Evaluating the skills of the artisans 3. Green Tech Solutions: Implementing environmentally friendly technology solutions 4. Market Research: Conducting research to understand market needs and opportunities 5. Order Generation: Generating orders for the products 6. Training: Providing training to artisans to enhance their skills 7. Design: Developing product designs 8. Machinery & Infrastructure Inclusion: Including necessary machinery and infrastructure to support production 9. Production: Carrying out the production process 10. Exit from Middle: Streamlining the process by reducing intermediaries 11. Support Continued Multi-Point Order Generation: Ensuring continuous order generation from multiple points The expected socio-economic impact from KADAM’s interventions include: • Establishing On-Ground Benchmarks – Technical experts will engage artisans to document existing knowledge and skills, ensuring preservation and adaptability • Community-Led Training Programs – Artisans will receive training from both community-based master trainers and external technical experts in craft techniques, business skills, and production efficiency • Access to Government Schemes – Facilitating linkages to relevant government financial support programs, including microfinance, skill development, and insurance • Strengthening Producer Collectives – Supporting producer collectives to improve governance, financial management, and production efficiency • Leadership and Management Training – Identifying artisan leaders and training them in cluster management, workflow coordination, quality control, and financial sustainability • Income Generation and Market Diversification – Expanding product portfolios through design innovation, enhanced branding, and direct market access