Ajrakh Block Print

KHAMIR’s strategy is to retain ajrakh and natural dye printing as an art form and livelihood, to make the craft more environmentally sustainable, and to retain the artisan’s market share. While the priority is better waste water management and improved infrastructure for printing and dyeing, improved techniques of production, better quality raw materials and design development are the other interventions.

Glimpses of some of the activities:

Workshop on Printing & Dyeing with Natural Colors:

Since 2004, KHAMIR has been engaging with the block printers of Ajrakhpur (formed after the earthquake) and Dhamadka to explore ways to retain the craft standards and address the environmental problems related to the craft. In the initial interventions, KHAMIR introduced a range of high quality fabrics which transformed the perceived value for the artisan units hitherto working with cotton sheeting like 30s & 40s count. A workshops to address better usage of the natural dyestuffs and experimentation with the mordenting techniques were select group of artisan.

Water Quality & Water Usage Study:

Water is a prime factor for every types of business weather it is traditional or advance. Now a days water quality along with water quantity is a major problem spread worldwide. It becomes more severe problem in arid region. Kachchh region belongs to arid to semi arid region. There is a major problem regarding water where salinity is the main issue. Such problems affect traditional occupation like agriculture, animal husbandry, dying business etc. Block dying industries are facing issues for availability for sufficient and good quality water. In present scenario there is more focus on advance or highly mechanized industries, where there is very less focus on traditional industries. So that traditional sector in industry is caught in substandard quality, low wages and poor image. So it requires taking step forward to solve the issues like water issues, market, valuation etc. which ensure the prosperity of the traditional workers and their families.

KHAMIR is working with local artisan (Block Printing Business) in Ajarakhpur to Dhamadaka villages. This block dying business suffers from lack of sufficient and good quality water. KHAMIR has invited Arid Communities and Technologies (NGO that supports the communities and institutions to understand, develop and Management of Natural Resources in arid and semi arid area) to carry out water resource development and management study in this area. The study is focusing on the water management, water quality improvement, intervention of appropriate technology to recycle waste water.