“In my community, every woman has a connection to needlework.” Geetaben Meriya has studied the craft since she was a young girl, learning from her mother and grandmother. She is very determined to conserve Gurjar Meghwal embroidery. She joined Shrujan Institute during the earthquake in 2001 because she was passionate about learning and wanted to enroll.

As the market’s demand for inexpensive, machine-produced items grew, competition intensified, and the amount of work decreased. Geetaben received training in design thinking, product development, consumer knowledge, and customer segmentation.

After some time, she decided to teach her art to other women as well. She began educating the women who lived in her home’s courtyard, hoping to give them a chance to establish themselves. With this desire and an understanding of marketing strategy, Geetaben started a small collective of women, offering them respectable work. “It was time for the women to become active once they made contact with the Sanjiro Foundation, and the job increased steadily. I will do whatever it takes to preserve y art.”

They began producing goods in accordance with the festivals. During the Corona epidemic lockdown, they created rakhis, masks, and other such items.

Currently, they work independently, providing 50 people with a living wage. Geetaben is the founder of Sanjiro Foundation and, after a long struggle, she has also been able to provide 25 sewing machines to women artisans.