In a world striving for equality and inclusivity, initiatives that champion women’s empowerment and economic participation are crucial for driving meaningful change. One such remarkable project, “Women Welding the Workplace (WWW),” has been making waves since its inception in 2021. A collaboration between Contact Base and the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata, with  a clear vision to develop a sustainable intergenerational regional network that would unite industry experts, domain specialists, statutory compliance professionals, entrepreneurs, media influencers, investors, and life skill and wellness experts. This network would collectively support capacity building, mentoring, knowledge sharing, and the creation of supportive policies and work environments. With a focus on Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and the USA, the project aspires to drive positive change across borders.

A highlight of WWW’s journey was the two-day “#mPowerWomen@Work Meet,” held at the American Centre Kolkata on May 30th and 31st, 2023. The event brought together an array of prominent figures: business leaders, change-makers, entrepreneurs, and educators from the project’s target regions.

As societies strive for equality, the discussion surrounding women’s empowerment has gained traction as organizations, policymakers, and individuals recognize the need to dismantle barriers, promote diversity, and harness the full potential of women in the workforce. The meet was attended by business leaders from Bangladesh, Nepal and India. The Founder president of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries, President and Vice President of Federation of Women Entrepreneurs association of Nepal were present at the meet along with business leaders like Media and Brand Manager of Mir Group, Bangladesh and Zonal head of TMSS and shed light on the current scenario of women entrepreneurship in their region. The National Director for US global Coalition joined the meet virtually and shared insights about the WGD-P initiative of American Government. Other business leaders, investors, large, small and micro level women entrepreneurs were present to create dialogue on women empowerment through financial inclusion. The Program head of WeConnect International, India Chapter and General Secretary of Association of Supply Chain Professionals were present and shared their view about supply chain management and women empowerment. U.S based wellbeing experts Kimberly M. Moore and Ednesha Sauldbury participated and shared about wellbeing of women. The two day long meet covered themes like Inclusive Access to Finance, Building Eco System for Women leadership, Skilling the Workforce and Well-being at Workplace. These figures lent their expertise to shed light on the current state of women’s entrepreneurship and business in their respective regions. Following are some of the discussions by the experts and stakeholders in women’s economic empowerment.

Objectives of the Meet were the following:

• Build regional coalitions and networks in South Asia to strengthen women’s leadership in the global economy.
• Explore ways of strengthening access to markets as the foundation of women’s economic empowerment.
• Explore tools and approaches to manage well-being at work and harness leadership skills at the workplace.

Rethinking Regional Coalitions: A Tailored Approach to Women’s Economic Empowerment in South Asia

  The U.S Consul General, Ms. Melinda Pavek presented a short note on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Asia-Pacific. Despite, the equal pay laws, available support systems and encouraging activities the numbers of women are declining in workforce because of lack of surveillance in unorganized sectors, disparity in pay scale and unrecognized contribution of women. She also mentioned that in order to achieve the sustainable development goals there should be equal participation of men and women in the work sectors. To bring about positive change in the economy, the society needs to change, there should be supportive environment that enables women to join the workforce and sustain for a longer time, there should be access to support systems such as networks, incubators, investors and other resources, there should be gender equality in every aspect to bring out the most from the population and change the social norms, gender stereotypes to create an inclusive workplace for women.

Ms. Selima Ahmad, a Member of Parliament of Bangladesh Government, Founder President of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President of Nitol Niloy group shared insights about ‘Making Women’s Leadership in Economy a Political Priority’. She mentioned that Women’s economic empowerment leads to GDP rise hence the government must take initiatives to ensure inclusive financial access to women. Economic empowerment is not only an interest issue for the government but also for individual as financial independence inculcate confidence and self-control among women and prevent them from being dependent on their male counterpart. She also mentioned that in a poverty stricken third world country like Bangladesh, making women financially sound can be a weapon against domestic violence.

The president of Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal, Ms. Neeru Rayamajhi Khatri shared about Policy Priorities for Women Leadership in the Economy. She shared that Business support, networking, collaborating, capacity building is the key to empower women in leadership roles. She also shed light on the current scenario of Women Entrepreneurship in Nepal. According to her knowledge, women in Nepal are mostly homebound as primary caregivers. There is no access to economic tools for the average women. Though 29% business establishments in Nepal are run by women but 98.3% of them are engaged in very small businesses in sectors like, agro, natural fibers, handicrafts, beauty and skincare. Less than 1% of these entrepreneurs are engaged in export which hinders their economic goal. Although there are some existing support programms and government provides subsidiary loans to women led businesses still there is lack of awareness and accessibility. Lack of financial support work as constraints for international trade and export hence introducing policies to reduce trade time and cost is inevitable for women led enterprises.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and India have made commendable progress in various domains. Professor Sreeradha Datta, a distinguished Professor at the OP Jindal Global University, shared some compelling insights on the challenges and solutions for enhancing women’s economic participation in the South Asia. She noted that while regional coalitions have been established to promote women’s economic empowerment, they often fall short of their intended impact. She advocated for an approach that caters to the creation of sub-regional alliances focused on the unique needs of Bangladesh, Nepal, and India. These alliances would offer tailored support, facilitating the growth of women-led enterprises and creating fresh avenues for economic progress. She highlights the need to challenge deep-seated stereotypes portraying women as the “weaker sex” to enhance their agency and advocates for instilling principles of gender equality from an early age. She suggests that transforming societal norms begins within households and asserts that knowledge of safety and priority mapping can empower women to pursue leadership roles. By addressing these knowledge gaps, we can foster an inclusive culture, improve the underrepresentation of women in leadership, and amplify diverse perspectives in decision-making. Academia should take the responsibility of encourage the young minds to confront gender roles and break the gender stereotypes. She also mentioned that women participation is very less in Business chambers and academic board accelerating women participation in these sectors can bring about positive change alongside increase private and public partnership.

To know more about this session: Go to Empowering Women’s Leadership in the Economy | Insights from Regional Experts

Inclusive Access to Finance: A Key to Women’s Economic Empowerment

In the panel discussion on access to finance, experts delved into the pivotal realm of inclusive access to finance for women entrepreneurs. From Bangladesh’s pioneering Women Entrepreneurs Finance initiative, offering collateral-free loans, to Grameen Foundation’s grassroots empowerment efforts, the journey of scaling startups via NASSCOM’s 10000Startups initiative, and the role of organizations like FWEAN in Nepal, the discourse showcased a holistic approach regarding access to finances for women from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Bridging awareness gaps, nurturing skills, and advocating gender-sensitive credit systems emerged as key strategies. This comprehensive approach ensures that financial support not only fuels women-led businesses but also contributes to a more equitable entrepreneurial landscape.

Women Entrepreneurs Finance (We-Fi) is an initiative of World Bank and available financial access in Bangladesh for women entrepreneurs. The Bangladesh government is working as a catalyst in empowering women led enterprises, the government owned banks provide low interest and collateral free loans to women entrepreneurs of up to Rs. 20Lacs. NGOs and Micro Finance institution play important role in providing access to small amount of capital but the women entrepreneurs. However, capacity building and participation in diverse sectors among women is equally important as access to apt credit.   For the last 25 years Grameen Foundation India has been working to accelerate women participation in leadership roles in the sector of agriculture and technology by providing mentoring support, taking up capacity building initiatives and advocacy in financial access. The main pitfall for the women entrepreneurs to access finance is lack of collateral and business models. hey also take active part to mitigate the scenario related to finance for women entrepreneurs through Grameen’s Care Index. This initiative of Grameen Foundation advocates for an inclusive and gender sensitive lens regarding funds and loan sanctions in AU small banks, SIDBI and MFIs.

NASSCOM 10000Startups initiative aims to scale up 10000 startups by 2023 by giving them support via access to incubators, accelerators, angel investors, venture capitalists, startup support groups, mentors, and technology corporations. At Nepal, in order to empower women entrepreneurs regardless of their background FWEAN are promoting women led enterprises, in international fairs and notable tourist spots. FWEAN developed E-Commerce site with E-Payment methods and BDC app to help the entrepreneurs in documentation and business management. Lack of technology and connectivity is prevalent in Nepal but FWEAN are there to provide support and promote women entrepreneurs, she added.    Social organisations such as TMSS or Thengamara Mahila Sabuj Sangha play important role in providing access to funding, resoirces and finances to the women at the grassroot levels. Such organization help rural women in Bangladesh in terms of getting loans and financial help. They provide trainings to  overpower barriers like lack of confidence, lack of digital literacy, indecisiveness and patriarchal and promoted entrepreneurship in rural women of Bangladesh. It is only after their intervention that these women are taking loans of more than 1 lac rupees and repaying the amount within the stipulated time as well.

To know more about this session: Go to Unveiling Inclusive Finance: Industry Experts Speak

Investor Master Class for women led startups

Access to finance and addressing financial need of the startups are crucial for success. This session was chaired by Ms. Neha Aggarwal, Principal of Investments at Mumbai Angels, Arnab Ray, CEO of Array Innovative Services Pvt. Ltd. and Neha Malhotra, managing Partner of MeritX Ventures.

Mumbai Angels is a collective of angel investors who invest in potential startups and help them grow while looking for a greater return. The Principal of Investments in Mumbai Angels, shared points to understand the aspiring startups about investor mindset, due diligence and investor expectation. She shared on the three Cs that investors typically look for in a startups, those are Capital, Collection and Consent. Be it an idea level startup, an early stage startup or an enterprise with reliable market good will, there are investors for every startup, she shared. Another reputed investor shared that there are new investor teams that are setting up in the past 10 years. The Indian startup ecosystem is at nascent stage and new ideas are coming to the market along with innovations hence the investors have also settled up in teams like the recruiters, these set of investors who look for founders with good academic or profession profile, repackage their ideas and present it to bigger investors. Managing Partner of MeritX Ventures mentioned about the craft of making an effective investor pitch. Pitch presentation is the most important part of getting an investment, and there is a basic outline for crafting one. Pitch deck has to be a two way communications, entrepreneurs must engage and interact with the investors, the pitch presentation has to have relevant contents, oversharing is not accepted gladly by the investors, there should be clear market readiness plan, business plan, vision, mission and a way forward.

To know more about this, go to Mastering Startup Investment: Insider Tips from Industry Experts

 Elevator Pitch by Women Entrepreneurs

Six women led startups from Assam and West Bengal presented their elevator pitch in front of Investors and Mentors. The participants from Assam were Amrapari, an NGO producing diversified products with the traditional Kantha Stich by employing rural women, QuickGhy, a place to access customized home and personal care services, Mamazaki, a fusion food brand with keen interest on traditional Assamese cuisine, Style99 a handmade and handcrafted jewelry brand and HyFood, processing indigenous nutrition enriched herbs and vegetables to make it available year around. A renowned café of South Kolkata named Café Hygge also participated in this session and presented the pitch. Apart from these start ups, this session was observed by other entrepreneurs too and helped them to understand the procedure of delivering a Pitch Deck in details. Investors shared their valuable feedbacks with regard to preparing themselves for rounds of funding and investments. Mentors guided them how to scale their businesses and plan the next five years of their business.

 Access to Markets: Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs’ Success

 

Strengthening women entrepreneurs’ access to markets is a crucial aspect of their business journey, as highlighted by industry experts during at the program. Experts emphasized supply chain diversity, customer satisfaction, and timely procurement. Success stories from entrepreneurs highlighted the importance of understanding market needs, while challenges faced by rural artisans underscored the need for improved access. Collaborative efforts among women entrepreneurs were stressed for enhanced market reach. Initiatives like WEConnect International and MeraBiz.net (https://www.merabiznet.in/)  were showcased as avenues to support gender-inclusive supplier diversity and provide entrepreneurial training. The post-pandemic landscape highlighted the significance of online presence and financial literacy for sustained growth. Overall, the session showcased strategies and collaborations crucial for women entrepreneurs to navigate and thrive in markets.

Supplier Diversity is one of the newly emerged terms that aim toward a more inclusive, sustainable and gender friendly market place for entrepreneurs. Mr. Anshuman Neil Basu the General Secretary of ASCP shared detail information about supply chain diversity and responsible supply chain and how that can affect an enterprise. According to him, procurement is a customer’s choice so if an enterprise delivers first class product or service with top notch delivery support that product has more potential than the others available in the market. He also introduced the Japanese word “omotonashi”, meaning delight; he explained why customer satisfaction and delight is essential for an enterprise to grow. He also mentioned the need of saving energy, people and product for a sustainable and ecofriendly venture.   Ms. Poonam Mehediratta shared about the agenda of WEConnect International and how they promote gender inclusive supplier diversity. WEConnect has successfully connected women entrepreneurs with each other and to market by creating and supporting a network for women entrepreneurs.

In Nepal, many rural entrepreneurs facing challenges while selling in international trade fair because of lack of marketing capabilities, lack of digital literacy and unavailability of gender inclusive government policies. But online market place and tourism oriented marketing has helped the rural entrepreneurs to access the market. As a result of FWEAN’s constant intervention and lobbying with the government, polices of development of MSME’s have emerged and strengthened the women owned micro and small businesses.

The audience also shared that for any enterprise online presence has become important after covid pandemic and financial understanding among the women is also leading to decreased growth. Ms. Pritha Dutt shared about her new initiative, “MeraBiz.net” an exclusive mobile app for entrepreneurs to have training on licensing, skill developing and training.

To know more go to Empower Your Business: Strengthening Access to Markets

Skilling the Women Workforce: For the 21st Century

 

The post-Covid era has seen a complex shift in women’s workforce participation, with leadership roles declining while women’s entry into the labor force has increased. Amidst this landscape of 21^st century, a panel featuring experts such as Ms. Sohini Sinha, Ms. Pritha Dutt, Ms. Ekta Jaju, and Ms. Sukanya Chatterjee delved into the challenges and solutions for bolstering women’s roles through skill development and unconventional sectors. From breaking barriers in manufacturing to fostering green businesses, the discussion highlighted the need for mindset shifts, accessible training, and embracing unexplored avenues in this era. This collective effort to reshape workforce dynamics has the potential to empower women and reshape industries in profound ways. In the manufacturing sector only 15% of the workers are women, due to barrier likes social stigmas and gender specific roles, low retention and future risks. There is need to change the mind-set with the new narratives and setting up accessible manufacturing units can leverage the numbers of women participating in these units. There is an urgency of a movement that can encourage more women in unconventional sectors like manufacturing. There is also need to encourage teens of government sponsored schools to choose alternative career options by exposing them to available resources. National Skill Development Council has Sector Skill Council that provides training and certification to organisations and individuals based on gradation of certified set of skills.

To know more about this session go to Empowerment through Skill Building: Navigating Unconventional Sectors

Building the Ecosystem for businesses to prosper

Accelerating workforce participation encompasses all the segments of the workforce, be it the worker community or the leading one, it is important to include more women in the industry for an inclusive ecosystem that have participation at every level. This session was moderated by Mr. Anshuman Neil Basu the general secretary of Association of Supply Chain Professional and participated by Ms. Sriranjani Joshi, Chairperson of Indian Women Network-CII, Dr. Sharmishtha Banerjee, Professor of Business Management at Calcutta University and Ms. Kimberly Moore, Co-founder of Black Women Be Whole an American organization dealing with wellbeing in women and Mrs. Tinku Rajeev Gupta executive vice president of India Chamber of Commerce for International Business. These experts navigated conversations around the need to have a safe space for all women to conduct their business and access appropriate resources. Business Chambers such as CII, ICIB, and others are developing networks exclusively for women entrepreneurs to thrive. Ecosystems act as a support system for women led businesses or first generation women entrepreneurs to avail resources, trainings, skills, get knowledge and information regarding available funds/ financial opportunities.

To know more about the session, go to Empowering Women Leaders: Building Inclusive Workplace Ecosystem

Lessons learned by women achievers

 

Women entrepreneurs and leaders shared their inspirational journey as it becomes important for any budding woman entrepreneur or business leader to know both the success and failure stories.  In this this session the National Engagement Director of the U.S Global Leadership Coalition, Ms. Michell Bekkering took part in a hybrid mode and shared about her journey as leading participant in White House led Women’s Global Development and Prosperity initiative. She mentioned that every organisation may encounter hurdles when its agenda is shaped under the sole governance of a particular political party as the government undergoes the requisite approval process under new leadership yet the particular initiative was a success. She shared that despite barriers such as increased diplomatic discourse, importance of data and navigating sensitively amidst different social and cultural scenario, the initiative has effectively included leadership mindset among women across the globe. This initiative also provided women grants to conduct data research to identify and increase access to unconventional lending structure, she shared. The other participants Ms. Swati Gautam founder of Necessity Gautam, Ms. Anisha Joshi Managing Partner, Contures Furniture Systems and Decorage & Associates and Ms. Moniza Islam Head of Communication and Gender Focal at Mir Group Ltd of Bangladesh shared their journey to success and encouraged other participants with their thoughtful insights. Ms. Swati addressed the audience and suggested to identify niche by understanding pain point, passion and take right decisions at right time. Ms Moniza suggested that, one should learn and gather knowledge from free sources, create a story and a brand wherein Ms. Anisha suggested to priorities self and follow passion.

 Women leading the workplace

 

“A pivotal facet of effective leadership revolves around one’s profound sense of identity, so do you see yourself as a leader? Do other people see you as a leader? And how you define your identity, right? What story do you tell yourself? How do you project an image to others about you being an actual leader?”- The session started with these questions from the moderator Mr. Juan A Clar, Deputy Director of American Center at Kolkata. The other discussants were Ms. Sohini Sinha, Head of Learning, Leadership Development and Talent Management at Tata Electronics Pvt. Ltd, Ms. Pritha Dutt, Director of Empower Paragati, Ms. Sukanya Chaterjee, Director of Programs at India Humanity Foundation and Ms. Shaleni S Biswas Founder of Easy Note Stationary Pvt Ltd.

Developing confidence becomes essential for women with great potential who will make significant efforts as a leader in strengthening their networks and creating meaningful relationships through thoughtful consideration of networking, alliances, and the creativity of colleagues.   Ms. Pritha Dutt the director of Empower Pragati shared that women are naturally capable of managing associations or organizations if we look at our homes, the women are the bosses of the house and manage economical disorders, emotional turbulence, education needs all on their own. Women are born leaders they just need to take risks, embrace opportunities, and foster indomitable self-belief. They must remain watchful and receptive to novel insights, fresh experiences, and knowledge in order to succeed as leaders. Ms. Sukanya Chaterjee, Director of Programs at India Humanity Foundation shared that women needs to be beside women and put collective efforts to amplify their peer’s voice and accommodate an inclusive association of female participants to nurture women’s advancement.

To know more about this session go to Unveiling Leadership at the Workplace: Voices of Empowerment

 Social Entrepreneurship: The New Frontier of Business

 

In the ever-evolving landscape, a new force for good is taking shape: social enterprises. These innovative ventures blend social impact with business acumen to uplift underserved communities across sectors. The entrepreneurs like Lubna Maezler, Manjuara Mullha, and Manjulika Majumder shared their journeys, while Dipaka Jalan and Sangeeta Das offered unconventional paths. The common question: how to scale up? Moderator Ms. Swati Gautam’s presence underscored the thirst for knowledge. These stories illuminate the potential of merging purpose with entrepreneurship, fostering not just change, but lasting impact.

To know more go to Unlocking Social Impact: Enterprises and Networks for Change

Nurturing Workplace Wellbeing: Empowering Women’s Voices

 Last but not the least; in a compelling session titled “Wellbeing at Workplace,” renowned experts Ms. Kimberly M. Moore and Ms. Ednesha Saulsbury from the Black Woman Be Whole organization in the USA, alongside Kolkata-based entrepreneur Ms. Chitralekha Biswas, shed light on the intricate challenges Indian women encounter within their professional spheres. The discourse accentuated the criticality of self-care, emotional intelligence, and setting firm boundaries to counteract prevalent gender disparities. The panelists underscored the significance of self-realization and empathetic communication in achieving a harmonious work-life balance. Enriched by personal narratives and interactive activities, the session not only unveiled the potency of shared vulnerability in establishing safe spaces but also illuminated the resounding collective voice of women from diverse backgrounds. This comprehensive approach not only addressed the confluence of career and personal life but also exemplified the persistent global endeavor for recognition amidst societal evolution.

 

In sum, the journey towards women’s economic empowerment in South Asia is a multi-faceted one, encompassing tailored strategies, financial inclusion, market access, skill development, social entrepreneurship, and workplace wellbeing. With passionate advocates like Professor Dutta and a commitment to challenging norms, these nations are steering toward a future where women’s participation in the economy is not just acknowledged, but celebrated and empowered.

To know more about this session go to Unlocking Wellbeing at the Workplace: Empowerment and Self-Care

Hit on the links below for the video content!

• #mPower Women at Work Meet – American Centre 2023 Kolkata
• Empowering Women’s Leadership in the Economy | Insights from Regional Experts
• Unveiling Inclusive Finance: Industry Experts Speak
• Mastering Startup Investment: Insider Tips from Industry Experts
• Empowering Women Leaders: Building Inclusive Workplace Ecosystem
• Unveiling Leadership at the Workplace: Voices of Empowerment
• Empowering Insights: Lessons Learned by Women Achievers
• Empowerment through Skill Building: Navigating Unconventional Sectors
• Empower Your Business: Strengthening Access to Markets
• Unlocking Wellbeing at the Workplace: Empowerment and Self-Care

Chhau dance, an exquisite and vibrant folk dance form, has been an integral part of India’s cultural heritage, particularly in the Purulia district of West Bengal, Seraikela in Jharkhand and Mayurbhanj in Odisha. This unique dance form, characterized by its vigorous movements, colourful masks, and elaborate costumes, has captivated audiences for generations and is enlisted in UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. The Chhau dance finds its roots in the tribal regions of Eastern India, primarily in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha. This martial dance form is a unique blend of folk traditions, mythology, and martial arts, often depicting stories from Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. The dance is characterized by its high-energy acrobatic moves, vigorous drumming, and the use of vibrant masks that represent various mythological characters.

Purulia’s history of political instability due to Maoist insurgency can be traced back to the late 1960s and early 1970s when the Naxalite movement emerged in various parts of India. The significant transformation of Purulia due to the government implemented multi-pronged strategies to address the Maoist insurgency, which includes a combination of developmental initiatives, security operations, and efforts to address grievances and socio-economic disparities signalled the commencement of safeguarding local art and artists. This has been integral towards materialising this shift in the cultural, economic and political fabric of Purulia and its evolution as a cultural tourism destinations. EZCC (Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre), is one of the seven Zonal Cultural Centers established by the Government of India with the aim of preserving and promoting the diverse cultural heritage of different regions in the country. It supports various cultural activities, including the preservation and promotion of traditional crafts and art forms. In 2004, EZCC, in collaboration with Contact Base (trading style: banglanatak dot com), supported the work in Purulia, indicating its involvement in promoting the cultural heritage of the region. After that, European Union Invest in People, a development cooperation initiative that aims to support sustainable human development and poverty reduction, supported the endeavour from 2009-2011 through the provision of financial assistance and expertise in various sectors, including cultural development.

From 2013 onwards, Purulia’s Chhau got under the purview of Rural Craft and Cultural Hub project, of Dept of MSME&T (Department of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and Textiles), Govt. of WB and UNESCO which aims to promote rural crafts and cultural heritage, enhance artisan skills, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for artisans.

Safeguarding Purulia’s Chhau Dance: A Multi-Faceted Effort

To ensure the continuity and preservation of the Chhau dance, and the practitioners,  extensive efforts have been undertaken, focusing on areas such as training, capacity building, market linkages, and raising awareness.

Training and Skill Development

A crucial aspect of safeguarding the Chhau dance and its intangible cultural heritage is the transmission of knowledge and skills to the younger generation. Organizations like Contact Base have been instrumental in facilitating workshops and training programs for aspiring Chhau artists. These workshops often cover basic and advanced skills in dance, music, and mask-making, under the guidance of experienced Chhau gurus, where trainings focused on existing practitioners from different age groups. This was crucial in maintaining the traditional intricacies of the dance form as involving senior gurus was the key to disseminating traditional knowledge

Efforts have also been made to revitalize traditional aspects of the dance, such as the inclusion of Jhumur songs, which were once an integral part of Chhau performances. Furthermore, workshops focusing on contemporary themes and stories have been organized to help Chhau artists adapt to changing audience preferences.

Market Linkages and Promotion

Establishing market linkages and promoting Chhau dance on various platforms play a vital role in ensuring its sustainability. Contact Base has been successful in creating domestic and international opportunities for Chhau artists to showcase their talent. This has not only increased the visibility of the Chhau dance but also opened new avenues for collaboration and cultural exchange by sponsoring Chhau dancers to travel abroad, expanding this intangible cultural heritage to a global audience.

Awareness and Documentation

Raising awareness about the Chhau dance, its cultural significance, and the challenges it faces is essential for its preservation. Efforts have been made to document the dance form through audio-visual recordings, publications, and graphic novels. Chhau dance has also been included in university curriculums, further emphasizing its cultural importance. To ensure the preservation of the Chhau dance form, efforts have been made to document it through various means. Audio-visual recordings capture performances, choreography, and music, providing a valuable resource for future generations to study and understand the dance form. Documentation also helps in disseminating information about Chhau to a wider audience, both within India and internationally. Additionally, publications such as books, articles, and research papers contribute to the documentation and dissemination of knowledge about Chhau. Recognizing the cultural importance of Chhau, efforts have been made to include the dance form in university curriculums. By incorporating Chhau into academic programs, students studying performing arts, cultural studies, or related disciplines have the opportunity to learn about and appreciate this traditional art form. Integration into curriculums not only helps in preserving the dance but also ensures its academic recognition and institutional support, further fostering its long-term preservation and promotion.

Recognition and Support

The Chhau dance has received national and international recognition for its cultural value. In 2010, UNESCO inscribed Chhau dance on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Additionally, the Chhau masks of Charida, Purulia, were awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status in 2018, acknowledging their distinctiveness and craftsmanship, especially the process adhered to making the masks.

 

Impact on cultural tourism

Chhau’s impact on enhancing cultural tourism in Purulia is deeply multi-faceted, playing a vital role in preserving and promoting the region’s rich intangible heritage. As a dynamic martial dance form with mythological narratives and vibrant visual aesthetics, Chhau offers visitors an immersive cultural experience that goes beyond mere performance. It facilitates cultural exchange, inspires heritage-driven travel, and contributes to destination marketing by positioning Purulia as a hub of traditional arts. The village of Charida, home to generations of Chhau mask makers, has emerged as a thriving cultural tourism destination. Tourists visit to witness the intricate mask-making process, interact with artists, and purchase Chhau masks as unique souvenirs—thereby enhancing the economic value and visibility of the craft. In return, the interest generated by cultural tourism reinforces the relevance of Chhau, both as an artistic tradition and a source of community pride and livelihood. This creates a symbiotic relationship where cultural tourism and heritage preservation nourish each other, making Purulia not just a travel destination, but a living archive of tradition and creativity.

 

Reflecting on our impactful workshop on waste management and regenerative agriculture. The workshop titled ‘Waste to Wealth’ took place at IISER (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research) Kolkata, Kalyani Campus in collaboration with RISE, IISER and Contact Base (trading style: banglanatak dot com).

Esteemed speakers like Mr. Imteyaz Ali, Managing Director of Sarthak Sanstha, Mr. Suman Mukhopadhyay Director, Contact Base, Mr. Saumya Sen of Naandi Foundation shed light on how regenerative agriculture and innovative waste management practices can spur new entrepreneurial ventures that promote environmental sustainability by creating circular economies, reducing waste, and enhancing soil health for future generations.

People from diverse sectors including corporates, small-scale entrepreneurs, district administration, and academic experts attended the workshop. Participants learned innovative techniques for reducing waste and enhancing soil health, promoting a more ecologically sustainable tomorrow. By embracing these practices, the workshop aimed at fostering a community dedicated to environmental stewardship, ensuring cleaner cities and healthier ecosystems.

The event not only educated but also inspired collective action towards a greener future, highlighting the importance of sustainable living for the well-being of our planet. The details of the discussions and agreed upon recommendations are given below. 

 Welcome Speech by The Research Innovation and Scientific Entrepreneurship (RISE) IISER

Prof Sayam Sengupta, faculty in the Department of Chemical Sciences at IISER Kolkata and Director of RISE delivered the welcome address. He spoke about the IISER’s mission to evolve as a premier institute to ensure quality higher education in the field of science and detailed on how RISE emerged as a nodal hub to promote science-based entrepreneurship, achieving application of science in the truest sense.  He concluded by expressing RISE’s willingness to support actions and ventures with regard to responsible waste management and ushering other environmentally sustainable practices.

1. Workshop on Waste to Wealth by Imteyaz Ali, Managing Director, Sarthak Sanstha

Imteyaz Ali started the workshop by citing Madhya Pradesh’ instance as one of the pioneering Indian states to functionalize an entire system of waste management, which has made Indore win the tag of the cleanest city for the last seven years and Bhopal, the cleanest capital. He asserted that out of the top 100 clean cities in India, a whooping 23 of them are located in Madhya Pradesh and this has been possible because of the integrated system of waste management operational in the state, which has streamlined collection, recycling and reuse of waste in the most effective manner. However, he mentioned that the model of waste management did not get operationalized in MP overnight; it took over a decade’s hard work and dedication to counter the problems arising out of unconscious waste accumulation.

With regard to Kalyani’s extant waste disposal mechanism, he said that proper segregation of waste is not into place. While the mount of mixed waste keeps on increasing in the dumpyards creating various health and environmental hazards, the residents’ lack awareness on proper waste management mechanisms. Many households, while giving mixed waste for collection, sell the valuable waste items as scraps, thereby leading to accumulation of waste, which have little to no processing value. As a result, the administrators at present mostly opt for burning the accumulated waste, thereby releasing toxic gases in the environment, which create climatic and health hazards.

As a way out, Imteyaz Ali shared his organization Sarthak’s model of waste management. To ensure proper segregation of waste into dry and wet, the model starts by building awareness of community members on ways to segregate waste. From the collection centres, segregated waste will reach the waste processing units, where the waste will be treated and converted into different raw materials used in road construction, cement industry, furniture making, etc. To ensure routine collection and tracking of the collection process, Sarthak has also come up with mobile application which tracks the movement of GPS attached waste collection vans. Imteyaz Ali stated that often waste management takes a backseat due to conflicting agenda and policy formulation mechanisms operative in the state and national level. He said that waste management efforts should take into consideration the population, demographics and orientation of the residents of the waste collecting site. Along with awareness building and influencing behaviour change, the waste management system must also incorporate the agenda of socio-economic improvement of the rag pickers to ensure sustained waste management without external support. He concluded by saying the role of emerging technologies not only with regard to effective treatment of waste but also for segregation of waste.

Discussions

BDO of Haringhata – Ms. Mahasweta Biswas – She said in favour of every Gram Panchayat having a functional solid waste management unit. She also shared about their recent efforts in initiating a waste management unit in Birohi II Gram Panchayat, which is still in the process of getting operationalized. At present, local administrators are engaged in building awareness of community members with regard to effective waste management and she said that they have planned to keep a system of user fee to make waste collection and processing sustainable.

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Deputy Chief Electrical Officer and Former SDO of Bongaon Subdivision – Dr. Kakuli Mukherjee – She shared her experience of an operational waste management unit in Sindrani Gram Panchayat, which started under her supervision in 2017. The local administrators during that time trained local women in making different products like coasters, bags out of fibres of water hyacinths. The formed women collective was the first industrial co-operative on waste management in West Bengal. She said that the waste management mechanism was operational in 11 GPs out of the total 26 GPs under her jurisdiction, which helped her to evaluate the impact of waste management in operational areas in comparison to the ones, which did not have a waste disposal mechanism at place. While the programme started with local administrators in 2017, community participation has sustained the endeavour even in today’s time. Representatives of the women collective also expressed their experience on stage.

Sanitary Inspector, Kalyani Municipality – Mr. Malay Roy – He said that door to door waste collection started in Kalyani since 2000 and all 28 wards are part of it. However, segregation of waste and availability of land for dumping and composting pose as major challenges in Kalyani municipality’s waste management endeavour.

Representatives of Exide Factory, Shyamnagar Plant – Mr. Biswadeep Majumdar and Mr. Khairul – While sharing their corporate experience  of waste processing at the Shyamnagar plant, the representatives stressed on the importance of ground-level awareness generation as mandatory prerequisite to effective waste management both in urban and rural areas. They shared on how they treat the chemical water of the plant with RO and ensure reusing 40% of the same in the plant. Their plastic wastes are at present given to registered vendors but they are exploring to find new ways to reuse the plastic effectively and create local benefit out of the same.

 

Teacher in a B.Ed College – She said that waste management as part of Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW) has been incorporated in their curriculum. But she stressed on the importance of such a course in the school level, so that children from early age can be aware and get associated to activities pertaining to waste management.

Please refer to this link to know more about the discussions and resolutions – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUuW3NeLWlg

2. Session on Opportunity for Entrepreneurship Development by Suman Mukhopadhyay, Director, Contact Base

The session started with 3 pertinent questions for entrepreneurship development – What problem are we solving? How many are facing the problem? Is the solution cost-effective? Answers to these questions are integral to determine the fate and value of an entrepreneurial venture. Suman Mukhopadhyay also spoke about the importance of applying technology to solve social problems through entrepreneurship development. He then opened the floor for discussions, where entrepreneurs working in the segment of waste management shared their experiences and the challenges they face while running their ventures.

Discussions

Sudip Roy from Bioron Solutions Pvt. Ltd. – The entrepreneurial venture is committed to create sustainable building materials out of solid waste. They have come up with a ‘digestion process’, which digests solid waste and converts it to raw materials for the building industry. While the venture provides an entrepreneurial model capitalizing on the potential of waste management, Mr. Roy shared how availability of segregated waste in bulk remains a problem.-

Representative from Satyam Solutions Pvt. Ltd. – The company makes organic manures out of processed wet waste. The representative stated facing several challenges – firstly, he said that awareness on the benefits of organic manure is low. That’s why the company is still running on subsidy model and needs additional funding to reach out to its market segment, ie., the farmers. Secondly, plastic segregation is challenging. Plastics need to get sorted micron-wise, as only plastic waste of certain microns can be fit for recycling into certain materials and this sorting poses a challenge, specially in regard where waste segregation mechanism is already not in place. He concluded by asserting that knowledge on waste management is an important life skill and must be incorporated into school curriculums.

Public Relations Officer and President of Nadia Chamber of Commerce shared their experience of developing small scale business and asked the support of RISE IISER to facilitate scientific innovations in small-scale entrepreneurial ventures.

Please refer to this link to know more about the discussions and resolutions – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9gyAObhoBE

3. Session on Regenerative Agriculture by Mr. Saumya Sen, Naandi Foundation

Mr. Saumya Sen started the session by citing that current agricultural practices contribute to 1/3^rd of the total carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. The session commenced with a role play, where people who are involved in the businesses concerning organic manures among the audience were asked to market their products to farmers. The discrepancy in price and marketing techniques that came out of the different pitches were highlighted as creating a hindrance of choice abundance to the farmer, whose decision is clouded instead of getting concretized with the obtained information. Mr. Sen, while stressing the importance of organic manure, asserted that soil regeneration with microbes following natural technique is the backbone of regenerative agriculture. He said that micro-biology has a crucial role to play in realizing the vision of regenerative agriculture. Soil regeneration with microbes explores how intelligence is embedded in soil over time and space and it is by capitalizing on this cyclical world chain, the extant agricultural landscape can be transformed into a sustainable model.

Discussions

Faculty of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vidyalaya – Dr. Niharendu Saha – Dr. Saha started with an approach different from Mr. Sen’s. He stressed on the importance of external nutrients, which are crucial for soil regeneration. He identified soil as the major input for production, as the key element sustaining life on earth. According to him, soil regeneration means putting the vitalities back to the soil on a continued basis. Dr. Saha identified the importance of external nutrients and organic compost in soil regeneration. He advocated in favour of organic compost in retaining soil moisture, thereby making agricultural activities water effective. According to Dr. Saha, if the entire process of soil regeneration rests solely on microbes, then it will put undue pressure on soil nutrients, often leading to soil degeneration, instead of regeneration.

Please refer to this link to know more about the discussions and resolutions – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YieY9GOXlQg

4. Concluding Session – Way Forward

Mr. Amitava Bhattacharya, Founder Director, Contact Base and Prof. Ayan Banerjee, Dean of Students’ Affair, IISER and Director of RISE, IISER presented the way forward session. In this session, the role of entrepreneurship in sustaining activities of social value was stressed at length. This session identified entrepreneurship as a way forward to solve the problems of waste and come up with sustainable solutions. While Contact Base expressed its commitment with regard to community mobilization, RISE IISER confirmed their support in leading scientific innovations, created to solve the problem of waste in a time and cost effective manner. The workshop concluded with the promise of Dr. Nilimesh Roy Chowdhury, Chairman of Kalyani Municipality, who said that Kalyani will solve its solid waste problem in the coming 3 years and requested all the domain experts, local administrators and community representatives to form a network and come up with contextual mitigating solutions.

Nestled in the heart of Ostrava City, Czech Republic, the Art and Life Festival v ulicích is an international multi-genre extravaganza that has been captivating audiences for over eleven years. Drawing more than 40,000 visitors each year, this festival is a melting pot of global artistry, featuring a rich and diverse program. From the infectious beats of jamming musicians and the captivating allure of street theatre to the rhythmic energy of drum parades and the wonder of science shows, there’s something for everyone.

A Cross-Cultural Partnership Begins

The collaboration between banglanatak dot com and Colours of Ostrava began in 2018, when Petra Hradilová, Managing Director of Festival v ulicích, Ostrava, and Zlata Holušová, Managing Director of Colours of Ostrava, attended the “Surjahan” World Peace Music Festival in Kolkata, organized by banglanatak dot com. In 2019, Raibenshe dancers, including two women performers, were invited to showcase their vibrant performance at the Art and Life Festival v ulicích, Ostrava. This exchange marked the beginning of a heartfelt and culturally enriching partnership, setting the stage for a shared journey of artistic celebration and cross-cultural dialogue.

A Journey of Discovery: From Purulia to Ostrava

This year, the festival welcomed eminent Chhau artist Biren Kalindi and his team from Purulia graced its stage on June 21st and 22nd. For two young artists Nipen Kalindi and Uttam Mahato, marked their first international cultural collaboration, and their excitement was palpable. The journey to Europe, crossing two countries, ignited their curiosity about the places, people, agriculture, and cultures they encountered. Their minds buzzed with endless questions and wonder. The adventure began as they landed in Austria, their first taste of Europe, before embarking on a scenic four-hour journey to Ostrava, Czech Republic. Every moment of the trip was an enlightening experience, as they took in the picturesque villages along the way, comparing the similarities and differences to their own village in Purulia. The lush landscapes, the architecture, and the rhythm of life in these new surroundings were a source of constant fascination and inspiration.

 

Cultural Surprises and Culinary Adventures

It was also my first visit to Europe, and let me tell you, Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, gave me a nostalgic jolt of Kolkata with its shared obsession for football and trams. However, the food was a whole different ball game. The meals in Ostrava seemed like they were on a strict diet plan—balancing crabs, fats, proteins, and fiber—whereas in India, we just pile on everything! On the first day, our team faced a culinary culture shock. We are used to thefty servings of chicken and rice, but here, the portions of chicken and raw veggies seemed to be in a contest to see which could overshadow the rice and Indian bread. But as time went on, we started to embrace this new food adventure—perhaps even developing a secret fondness for those veggies! The surprises didn’t stop there. On the first night, we experienced the peculiar European phenomenon of a late sunset. At 9:00 pm, the sun was still hanging out in the sky, as if it had forgotten to check its own schedule.

A Captivating Performance: Chhau Dance Takes the Stage

On the morning of June 21st, Biren Kalindi and team cheered each other on and prepared to ignite the festival with their performance as the second group on stage. As soon as they started their performance with the vibrant sounds of the Sanai, Dhol, and Dhamsa, the gallery quickly filled with eager spectators. The powerful beats of Dhamsa had the audience clapping along in perfect rhythm, creating an electrifying atmosphere. As the dance started, it was pure magic—every move had the crowd gasping and cheering, totally captivated by the dazzling masks and vibrant costumes. Over the course of two days, they took the stage eight times, bringing the epic tales of Mahishasura Badh and Narasingha Avatar to life. Each performance was greeted with cheers so loud they could probably be heard from space!

Global Pride and Cultural Unity

Some audience said that Chhau dance, an intriguing and culturally rich art form from India, added a magical touch to the festival. Indian spectators living there expressed their pride, saying, “We are very proud to see our Indian culture spreading all over the world and these traditional artists being acknowledged globally.”

The team returned to India with cherished memories of being appreciated for representing their country. It seemed that everyone they encountered in India—whether it was the person at the bank, fellow train passengers, or airport authorities—showed gratitude and respect upon learning about their purpose of visiting abroad. This demonstrated how our culture and traditions have the power to unite our country.

A Kaleidoscope of Culture: Reflections on the Experience

The experience of this entire trip was like a vivid festival where people from all walks of life came together to celebrate a rich mosaic of culture, music, street theatre, stand-up comedy, and crafts. It was as if we were all looking through a kaleidoscope of vibrant expressions! It became obvious that culture speaks a universal language. Its true magic is felt deeply and understood worldwide, proving that the beauty of human creativity and expression doesn’t need a translator—just an open heart.

 

From the Heart of the Artists: A Message from Biren Kalindi

“Performing in the Czech Republic was a great experience for our team. Sharing the rich heritage of Chhau dance with an international audience not only broadened our horizons but also highlighted the universal appeal of our cultural traditions. The warm reception and appreciation we received reaffirmed our commitment to preserving and promoting this art form globally.”

Biren Kalindi, Team Leader

A glimpse of the festival