Developing appropriate tribal products
Meghna Ajit is a Social Entrepreneur, Strategist, Design Academician, Nurturer and Energy Healer. She is the founder of Beeja, a not for profit organisation which seeks to make the crafts of the Pilkhua region commercially viable. She has worked with tribal communities of India like the Tharus of Uttarakhand and Bharewa(Gonds) of Madhya Pradesh.
The use of empathy in moral imagination is central to Meghna’s work at Beeja. Beeja collaborated with other organisations like Watershed department and Bamboo and Fibre Board of Uttarakhand to ensure sustained income source through appropriate product development. Project Beeja has also worked on Developing Production Centre to support Lost Wax Casting artisans of Bharewa (Gond) Tribe of Madhya Pradesh. This project was in collaboration with Madhya Pradesh Government,
Beeja’s vision is to instill economic security and a culture of sustainable lifestyles in urban and rural India through establishment of community based institutions facilitating a process of socio-economic transformation. The mission of the organisation is to revive traditional crafts, to create self-sufficient environmentally awakened communities, generate sustainable livelihood, and facilitate inclusive development through skill development ultimately bringing about a greening of the urban lifestyle.
Papier Mache of Pilkhua community is another activity that is groomed by Beeja. The sustainability and flexibility of functionality and shape makes it an attractive product to be used in urban homes. Bamboo products by Pilkhuas is another craft that carries its own essence. In the process of developing programmes for communities, Meghna also learnt to interact and develop activities for school children and interacting with craftsmen from across the globe at cultural exchange workshops.