About Samvit Sudha®
SAMVIT SUDHA®, a women empowerment initiative located in the quaint village of Shirālī in North Karnāṭaka, started as a tailoring and embroidery unit. Today, it designs and sells exclusive hand-crafted products made from fabric, handmade paper and upcycled newspapers. Its primary aim is to provide a steady source of income for local underprivileged women. This initiative not only offers economic independence, but also serves as a platform for these rural women to express their creativity and gain confidence while balancing their domestic obligations.
It was founded on 14th June 1999, under the Guidance and Blessings of His Holiness Shrīmat Sadyojāt Shaṅkarāshram Swāmījī, the 11th Mat͟hādhipati of Shrī Chitrāpur Mat͟h, to pay homage to, and realize the dreams of an extraordinary visionary, His Holiness Shrīmat Parijñānāshram Swāmījī III. In 2011, it became a part of PARIJNAN FOUNDATION®, a Public Charitable Trust under the aegis of Shrī Chitrāpur Mat͟h.
Beyond stitching and embroidery, SAMVIT SUDHA® is committed to preserving India’s invaluable arts and crafts traditions. The project imparts various hand-embroidery, tailoring and inkle weaving skills. It provides training in the art of making handmade paper, and the skill to craft unique products from it. With great emphasis on quality, it strives to achieve perfection in every stitch and every fold.
SAMVIT SUDHA® stands as a beacon of hope and empowerment for rural women in Chitrāpur, Shirālī, and its surrounding areas. Women who were once dependent have now become financially self-reliant. They are viewed with newfound respect within their families, marking a notable shift in societal dynamics. Through nurturing creativity, imparting valuable skills, and fostering an environment of respect, this initiative continues to make a profound impact on the lives of these women and their families.
SAMVIT SUDHA® is a women-empowerment initiative that offers economic independence & serves as a platform for rural women to express their creativity and gain confidence while balancing their domestic obligations.
Our Mission
Empowering Women, Enriching Lives since 1999.
Samvit Sudha® is dedicated to the empowerment of women in and around Chitrapur. Our core mission is to provide gainful employment opportunities that enable women to achieve financial independence without compromising their essential family responsibilities. We are committed to fostering a nurturing environment that promotes their personal growth, economic stability, and overall well-being. Through dedication, innovation, and collaboration, we continue to pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Fabric Unit
The women at the fabric unit are trained in various tailoring skills like hand embroidery, stitching, printing and ‘inkle weaving’. They are given the choice of either continuing at SAMVIT SUDHA® or setting up their independent tailoring units in the nearby villages, which is in line with the initiative of ‘Earn while you learn’. The manufacturing unit is well-equipped and creates a pleasing work environment for the women employed therein. Remuneration is in proportion to the output and skills required to make the product.
Over 500 women have been trained so far to create a fascinating variety of world-class gift items designed from exquisite Indian fabrics. These artistic creations, which combine beauty with utility, present a unique display of cross-country embroideries of India – like mirror work from Kutc͟h and Rājasthān, Kānthā from Beṅgāl, Kasūtī from Dhārwāḍ, Wārlī from Mahārās͟hṭra and Kashīdā embroidery from Kashmīr. The women here have also been stitching uniforms annually, for the students of Srīvalī High School. The products made at SAMVIT SUDHA® cater to different age-groups and segments of society.
THE HAND-MADE PAPER PROJECT
In December 2011, under the umbrella of SAMVIT SUDHA®, the PARIJNAN FOUNDATION® launched a Go-Green all-women initiative – the Parijñānāshram Handmade Paper Project in Shirālī.
Cotton and hosiery scraps, which are otherwise dumped in landfills, are used as the raw material for making our Handmade Paper. The process is eco-friendly and does not involve any felling of trees. All fabric scraps from the Fabric Unit and paper scraps from the Paper Conversion Unit are converted into handmade paper – a near zero waste process.
At the Handmade Paper Project Unit, the girls have become skilled and independent in the making of handmade paper from start to finish. The sheets are cut and creased by the girls at the factory, which are then sent to the Conversion Unit for making into elegant and stylish paper products. At the conversion unit, they have mastered the skills of screen printing, block printing and marbling.
SAMVIT SUDHA’S handmade paper unit has also entered the corporate world to create customized gifts like writing pads, diaries, gift bags and envelopes, to cater to different gifting options.
HOLDING HANDS
Started in April 2019, HOLDING HANDS is another initiative of the PARIJNAN FOUNDATION® that offers Vocational Training to the mothers of the specially abled children at SPEVC – Swami Parijñānāshram Educational and Vocational Centre for the Handicapped, Virar, in Mumbai.
At this Centre, the mothers of severely mentally challenged children spend a few hours waiting each day while their wards attend school. With the objective of empowering these mothers to spend this time productively and gainfully, the unique initiative of HOLDING HANDS was started. It allows them to break free from their routines and experience the joy of creating something on their own. It has instilled a sense of independence, confidence, and creativity in these participants.
These mothers have been trained to make products by upcycling newspapers, magazines, invitation cards, cardboard cartons etc. They are also trained in the art of crochet and macrame. The products made by these mothers of Holding Hands also form a part of our product range, marketed under the SAMVIT SUDHA® brand.
PARIJÑĀ BOOKS
Parijñā Books were launched on 1st March 2014, to create a ‘Fun-while -you-learn’ series of books for young children. In 2017, Parijñā Activity Books were introduced to encourage children to be more creative and imaginative.
A Parijñā book uses delightful stories to subtly stress character-building values like honesty, integrity, positivity and more. It makes a child aware and proud of our strong-rooted traditions and multi-faceted culture. It instils a love for flora and fauna and develops a sense of responsibility towards protecting our planet.
A Parijñā Activity Book with its fun-filled puzzles, games and riddles helps in delving deep into the imagination and creativity of a child, thus helping in the overall holistic development of the child. These books also encourage the Parent and Child to spend quality time together!
Parijñā books make ideal gifting options and proceeds from their sale contribute towards the many worthy objectives of PARIJNAN FOUNDATION®.
