Loading…
Loading…
60% of Tribal Handicraft Artisans Are Women
“Tribal Roots, Global Reach”
Chhattisgarh is one of India's most tribally diverse states — with 32 tribes, each carrying centuries of artistic tradition. And in every tribe, it is the women who are the primary creators. Dokra — a 4,000-year-old lost-wax metal casting technique — is practiced almost entirely by women in the Bastar region. Their bronze and bell metal figures depicting tribal deities, animals, and village life are now sold in Delhi galleries, exported to Europe, and featured in international design exhibitions.
Kosa silk — Chhattisgarh's signature textile — is woven from the cocoon of the Tussar silkworm, cultivated primarily by tribal women in forest areas. Over 25,000 women are registered Kosa weavers, producing some of India's most distinctive natural-fibre fabric. Kosa silk sarees carry a GI tag and are sought by buyers who want authenticity, sustainability, and connection to India's oldest textile traditions.
Women in Chhattisgarh also lead the collection and processing of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) — tendu leaves, mahua, chironji, amla, and medicinal herbs — through Women's Forest Cooperatives. These cooperatives give tribal women direct access to markets, bypassing middlemen and ensuring their earnings are their own. In a state where natural resources are abundant, women entrepreneurs have made forest-based enterprise both sustainable and profitable.
Politics & Tribal Rights
Union Minister who has advocated nationally for tribal women entrepreneurs, driving MSME support and market access for Chhattisgarh artisans
Social Enterprise
Padma Shri awardee who built community enterprises from nothing, demonstrating that poverty is not a barrier to becoming an entrepreneur in Central India
Dokra art from Chhattisgarh is exported to craft galleries in Germany, France, and the United States. Kosa silk is flown to luxury boutiques in Japan and the Middle East. Chhattisgarh's forest-based herbal products — processed by women's cooperatives — supply Ayurvedic companies across India and increasingly to wellness brands in Europe and the Gulf.
Digital products designed to help you start, grow, and scale your business — wherever you are in India.
Complete guide to selling tribal art and forest products online
Tell the story of Dokra or Kosa silk in posts that sell
Learn digital marketing for artisan and forest-product businesses
Plan your seasonal production, collection cycles, and income
Join thousands of women entrepreneurs from Chhattisgarh and across India who use Srishti Digital Store to grow their businesses online.
Chhattisgarh has over 20 lakh women in Self Help Groups. The tribal handicraft sector alone employs over 60% women artisans. The Kosa silk industry has 25,000+ registered women weavers, and over 8 lakh women participate in forest product collection and processing cooperatives.
Dokra is a 4,000-year-old lost-wax bronze casting technique practiced in Bastar. Women artisans create unique sculptural pieces that cannot be mass-produced — each is handmade, making them irreplaceable luxury collectibles. International collectors pay ₹2,000 to ₹50,000 per piece, giving women artisans a high-value income stream from their ancestral craft.
Chhattisgarh women are among India's largest producers of GI-certified tribal crafts. Their Dokra, Kosa silk, Sheetalpati (sedge mat), and Dhokra products represent India's tribal cultural heritage in international markets, contributing to India's handicraft export earnings and cultural diplomacy.
Online platforms like Amazon Karigar, Craftsvilla, and Etsy have opened international markets for Chhattisgarh artisans. Social media has also been transformative — women who show their Dokra casting process on Instagram and YouTube attract global buyers directly, eliminating middlemen and earning 3–5x more.
Start by photographing and filming your craft process — people buy the story as much as the product. Post consistently on Instagram with templates designed for artisan businesses. Use business eBooks to understand pricing for international markets. Srishti Digital Store has practical tools designed for women who make and sell handmade products.