The Museum of Digital Society: A Living Archive of Digital Inclusion
In the rustic village of Saidanpur, in the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, lives a man named Siraj Ansari, a 44-year-old skilled weaver. Siraj’s family consists of six members – his wife, four children, and himself. For generations, Siraj’s family has been entwined with the art of weaving, a craft that once thrived but now faces modern challenges. Despite the rich heritage, the weavers of Uttar Pradesh carry, neither life nor the system has not been kind to Siraj and the weaver community. While Siraj’s family earns 250-300 per day, as it takes a minimum of three people to work on a piece of fabric, other families in the village face even more dire circumstances. They work for four hours to weave a fabric of four meters, but they receive a payment of just Rs60 for their hard work. This exploitative situation has forced many weavers to migrate to Madhya Pradesh, where they find employment in factories that offer better wages for the same work. Due to the low wages, the number of families engaged in weaving has decreased in Saidanpur, as many have either opted for different occupations or chosen to migrate to seek better opportunities in other states. As more and more families opt for different work or migrate, the future of weaving in Saidanpur looks uncertain, as the loss of skilled weavers not only affects the economic growth of the village but also puts the rich cultural heritage of weaving at risk of disappearing over time.
However, in 2017-18, hope came knocking on their door when DEF (Digital Empowerment Foundation) launched ‘Digikargha’. DigiKargha, an initiative by the Digital Empowerment Foundation, sought to assist its cluster in different states through the Digital Cluster Development Programme in order to guide the cluster toward maturity and sustainability. The project primarily involved inclusive and decentralized use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) which aimed to improve and expand weaving skills, designs, marketing, and entrepreneurship in the clusters. Additionally, the project aimed to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the youth within these clusters. The approach emphasized the integration of both social and economic aspects to promote inclusive growth among the targeted artisan communities. In other words, this initiative aimed to use technology to uplift traditional weavers by providing them with a wider market and improved income prospects. While the project helped over 1000+ families across its 9 clusters, in Saidanpur it helped 20+ families. In Saidanpur, the project was known as baan-ke-loom. The project initiated with a need assessment survey, followed by establishing a center, providing internet access to communities including panchayat, school, and the nearby hospital, and offering digital literacy courses to the families of the weavers which helped them in creating new designs and understanding the online market for e-commerce.
Embracing the opportunity, Siraj joined the project, eager to improve his family’s living conditions. The weavers were given orders to make sarees, shawls, towels, running fabric, dupattas, etc, which led to their daily income doubling to a minimum of Rs. 500, and ultimately providing some respite to the financial burdens they once bore. With steady work and a supportive environment, Siraj no longer had to resort to taking loans to fund his daughters’ education or cover other expenses in the years he was associated with DEF. DEF’s vision of holistic empowerment extended beyond just income. They recognized the importance of digitalbliteracy and practical skills including sewing for the younger generation. Siraj’s children attended these classes, learning to use phones and computers, and gaining financial literacy knowledge. However, according to Siraj, navigating these lessons proved challenging as an illiterate man, but he beamed with pride at his children’s newfound skills. While the stark reality of Saidanpur’s lack of access to quality education and healthcare persisted, his improved income certainly provided some respite and he did not have to resort to taking loans.
As his association with DEF ended, due to irregular orders from the buyers some of Siraj’s previous struggles resurfaced. Without a stable income, he finds himself once again resorting to taking loans to manage household expenses and meet his children’s educational needs. Living conditions in Saidanpur continue to be far from ideal, ultimately increasing the challenges of the Weaver community. The family resides in a small, leaking mud house, making them exposed and vulnerable during rainy seasons. Siraj’s weaving equipment faces damage due to a lack of proper storage facilities, impacting his craft’s progress. In addition, despite having a ‘bunkar card,’ which promised benefits, Siraj’s electricity bills remain unaffordable amounting to almost Rs2000 per month, leaving him with hope for subsidized rates initially promised by the government. However, the spirit of resilience still burns within Siraj. Despite the setbacks, he devised a “battery pankha,” a machine that runs on batteries during power cuts, ensuring he could continue weaving uninterrupted. This invention not only depicts his determination but also helps him navigate the difficulties posed by an irregular electricity supply. The journey of empowerment was no fairy tale, but a gradual transformation rooted in perseverance and dedication. Siraj’s family began to witness tangible improvements – access to better education, improved healthcare, and a brighter outlook on life. As they wove their way through life’s challenges, Siraj’s passion for weaving remained intact, symbolizing the threads of resilience that bound his family together.
During my conversation with Saif Habibullah, a local stakeholder, he brought up the critical issue of how these circumstances are part of a bigger negligence on the part of the state government, which, unlike other states like Gujarat and Orissa, lags behind when it comes to the promotion of local art and culture of Uttar Pradesh. To elaborate, in states such as Gujarat and Orissa, the state government offers valuable support to weavers by offering subsidies on raw materials. This initiative not only lowers production costs for the craftsmen but also motivates them to continue their traditional crafts. In addition, these states take crucial steps to promote their cultural crafts on both state, national, and international platforms. This approach not only helps raise awareness about the rich artistic heritage of the region but also opens up opportunities for craftsmen to show their talent and skills to a broader audience, thus creating a wider market. Nevertheless, coming to the present reality, the craftsmen or artisans of Uttar Pradesh like Siraj continue to wait and be at the state’s mercy for subsidized rates, better wages, and equal representation. A Handloom Society which was formed some 12 years ago, and was supporting the weavers of Saidanpur through a monthly stipend of Rs200 was also dismantled due to a lack of funding from the government. Now the question remains, what can people like you or me do to provide some amount of relief to these families? While the answer is complex and complicated, however, one tangible solution that can make a significant impact is by supporting initiatives like Digikargha, which directly contribute to the socio-economic development of the
weavers’ community.
By placing orders through Digikargha, we can actively support the socio-economic upliftment of these artisans and their families. The money from these orders directly goes to the weavers, ensuring they receive fair wages for their work. This financial support not only helps them in meeting their needs, saves them from the exploitation of the middlemen but also empowers them to continue their traditional crafts with pride. Moreover, by supporting Digikargha and similar initiatives one also helps in preserving and promoting the unique art and cultural heritage of the community as well as the state and nation. The more we encourage and invest in these traditional crafts, the more likely they are to thrive and be passed down to future generations, safeguarding the state’s rich artistic legacy, sustainable livelihoods, and guaranteed employment.
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