The Story Behind Project Prakrti

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In 2021, during a research visit to Jharkhand, craft textile designer Nidhi Singh from Indian Institute of Craft and Design, Jaipur, came across a small village Kajri in Hazaribag district of Jharkhand. Marsal Prathmik Bunkar Sahyog Samiti Limited, a local weavers’ society that had been functioning since 2012. At the time, the society had few handlooms and around a dozen Santhali women weavers who worked tirelessly to support their families. However, the challenges were immense. The women were weaving with limited infrastructure, had no own design language but influenced by bengals jamdani, and lacked knowledge of new weaving techniques, market trends with few opportunities and skills to grow. Despite their dedication and hard work, they struggled to sustain themselves in the rapidly changing and competitive textile market without proper guidance or support.

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When Ms Nidhi visited Kajri and interacted with the Santhali women, she was deeply moved by their determination and resilience. She saw not just their struggles, but also their immense potential. The skill in their hands, the cultural richness of their traditions, and their willingness to learn inspired her to take action. Determined to help create a sustainable future for these women, She began conducting several meetings with the society members and women in and around the village. Through these discussions, 75 women were identified who were eager to learn and become part of a new initiative.

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This marked the beginning of Project Prakrti.

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With a vision to revive and strengthen the weaving traditions of Kajri while improving the livelihoods of Santhali women, Ms Nidhi Singh, [Craft Textile Designer] prepared a comprehensive proposal. After months of effort and dedication, her proposal received support under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Central Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited. In September 2023, this dream took its first formal step forward. An MoU was signed between Central Coalfields Limited and Marsal Prathmik Bunkar Sahyog Samiti Limited, officially launching Project Prakrti.

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The project began with Phase 1, focusing on building strong foundations for the women weavers. They were trained in basic handloom weaving techniques, including two-paddle handlooms and extra-weft design development. The initiative also provided design inputs, improved infrastructure, and skill enhancement workshops. One of the most transformative aspects of the program was the revival of natural dyeing traditions and reconnect santhal community with cotton which hold deep cultural and spiritual significance in santhali's. The women learned how to extract beautiful colors from natural resources and organic waste available around them, creating sustainable textiles while protecting nature and ensuring a safe working environment for the dyers. By the end of Phase I, the results were inspiring. Project Prakrti, funded under CSR by Central Coalfields Limited was honoured with the Prestigious CSR Journal excellence Award 2025 as 2nd runner up in the category of Women Empowerment Initiatives. The confidence, skills, and creativity of the women had grown remarkably. Seeing this progress, the project successfully moved into Phase II.

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In Phase II, 50 women were selected for advanced handloom training. They are now being trained by industry experts in advanced weaving techniques such as four-paddle handloom weaving, advanced design development, natural dye processes, and color theory. The women are also receiving training in branding, marketing, and digital literacy, enabling them to connect directly with markets and customers in today’s digital world.

As part of this transformation, Ms. Nidhi guided the artisans back to their roots, by elevating the influence of Bengal’s Jamdani and seamlessly integrating indigenous tribal motifs and techniques, she helped shape a renewed design language for the cluster through “Kajri Cotton”, the society’s own homegrown brand named after their village. Its signature design concepts, “Bapla Khand and Barah Khand” draws inspiration from the rich Santhali rituals and traditional practices, while another distinctive design "Buru' a Santhali word for mountains was introduced to help translate their stories and surroundings directly into textiles, giving the cluster a unique cultural identity in the textile market. 

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Another meaningful step forward for Project Prakrit has been the shift in Kajri cotton from synthetic yarns to natural cotton yarn. Earlier, most of the textiles were woven using synthetic materials, but today, artisans are returning to cotton, making their work more authentic and sustainable.

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Project Prakrit has brought real change to the Santhal community in simple but meaningful ways. It has helped artisans improve their weaving, learn new skills, and slowly develop a fresh design style while staying connected to their roots.

At the same time, it has brought back the Sohrai art by organising workshops in the village, giving people a chance to relearn and practice what was once fading away. Most importantly, it has encouraged women to take pride in their identity again; motivating them to start wearing their traditional attire, the Panchi and Parhan. What was once being forgotten is now being worn with confidence, bringing culture, pride, and tradition back into everyday life.

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Today, Project Prakrti stands as a powerful example of how vision, collaboration, and community strength can transform lives. With the continued support of Central Coalfields Limited under its CSR initiative, the Santhali women of Kajri are not only strengthening their weaving skills but are also building confidence, independence, and sustainable livelihoods.

What began as a small cluster with handful of looms has now become a growing movement of empowered women weavers, proudly carrying forward their heritage while shaping a brighter future for themselves and their community.

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And at the heart of this transformation lies a shared journey, supported by CSR of Central Coalfields Limited, a designer’s vision, a community’s resilience, and the unwavering spirit of Santhali women determined to weave their own destiny.