Cause Area
Primary Sectors
Secondary Sectors
Financials
Geographies Served
Programs
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Capacity Building
District
Dahod
States
Gujarat
Craft requires continuous skill improvement to adapt to changing market demands and designs. Sahaj began with traditional beadwork but soon realized the importance of design development and ongoing training. They have trained about 3,000 artisans in skill development and upgrading, helping them work with Sahaj, become independent producers, or diversify into other fields.
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Support Services
District
Dahod
States
Gujarat
Sahaj primarily focuses on economic empowerment but also addresses socio-economic issues within the community. They provide training and support for artisans to access government welfare schemes, promote financial literacy, and help artisans form Self Help Groups. Artisans are registered with the government, receive health and insurance cards, open bank accounts, and are connected to various welfare programs. Sahaj also facilitates their access to microfinance institutions for loans, enabling them to achieve financial independence.
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Awareness Camps
District
Dahod
States
Gujarat
Sahaj supports women artisans by providing training in health, hygiene, and nutritious food alongside their craft skills. They organize nutritious food recipe competitions, promote the use of locally grown ingredients, and educate mothers about the nutritional value of local foods. With the assistance of RPG Foundation, Sahaj provides supplementary nutrition to 700 children in the Halol block of Panchmahal district five days a week. The food is prepared by women Self Help Groups from Dahod district, offering employment opportunities. Sahaj also raises awareness among families about nutritious food, health, and hygiene.
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Muktangan
District
Dahod
States
Gujarat
Sahaj's dialogue with women artisans led to the realisation that children within the community required attention. While formal education systems are functional, children lack essential life skills, curiosity, and platforms for self-expression. As a response, Sahaj introduced "Muktangan," an initiative focused on improving the quality of life for rural and tribal children. Children from various villages attend Muktangan to learn about physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual health. Additionally, the program trains mothers on topics like nutritious food, health, and sanitation. 100 children from five villages in the Dahod district receive beyond-school education and life skills throughout the year.
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Alakh no Otalo
District
Dahod
States
Gujarat
This platform serves as a space for individuals to share their life experiences, engage in thoughtful discussions, and connect with a diverse range of people. Its primary objective is to unravel the life stories of individuals from various fields and to extract valuable lessons from these human libraries. The forum operates on a monthly basis, welcoming participation from Sahaj well-wishers, friends, and those who are part of the Sahaj community.
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Women Empowerment
District
Dahod
States
Gujarat
The organisation's primary goal is to empower women artisans economically through handicrafts, improve their social status, and promote their education, health, and financial security. They currently work with 3,000 tribal artisans, where 1,200 women are engaged in direct livelihood activities, earning around Rs. 45,000 annually. Providing livelihood opportunities and favourable working conditions has encouraged women to remain in their communities instead of migrating to cities. They use their earnings to invest in agriculture, educate their children, and support their family's health needs. Through design research and training, the organisation has developed a range of commercially viable products that leverage the traditional handicraft skills of these artisans. They have created a niche market for tribal handicrafts and established a pro-tribal brand.
Leadership Team
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Villoo Mirza
Chairperson
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Jabeen Jambughodawala
Founder & Managing Trustee
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Vijay Jani
Chief Operating Officer
Demographics & Structure
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Organisation Strength
None
Registration Details
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PAN Card
AACTS0036Q
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Registration Number
E/36/Dahod
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CSR Form 1
CSR00004458
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80G
AACTS0036QF20221
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12A
AACTS0036QE20214
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FCRA
42010014
About
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Headquarters
Dahod, Gujarat
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Since
2001
Impact
Right from its conception, Sahaj worked towards making women believe that an alternate life is possible; Sahaj provided them with an alternate livelihood opportunity that empowered them to aspire for and achieve a better life, and thereby increase their well-being. This approach has had a gradual but definite ripple effect on both the material condition of the families and the socio-cultural position of the women. In Sahaj, the artisans considered as the most important stakeholders, not mere targets or beneficiaries of the programme. A sense of ownership and responsibility over all stages of production is built in through participation in the processes and involvement in decision-making. Women’s knowledge and inputs treated with respect and they interact with professionals. The trainers also selected from the lot of artisans. The artisans themselves go to the cities to put up stalls in exhibitions. This kind of capacity building chisels out professional artisans and leaders out of the women. Association with Sahaj has changed not only how the society views women, but also how they view themselves. Dreams that once seemed so distant and strange are now possibilities realities. They have role models to look up to within their own communities, the changes in their lives over the years to base aspirations on. They feel they are adding meaning to their life and dreaming bigger dreams. They are reclaiming their lives from servitude to be masters of themselves. At present, Sahaj is working with tribal women artisans of eastern Gujarat and provide home based livelihood opportunities to address the issue of annual migration. Although it has been operational since 1994, it was formally registered as a separate NGO under the Bombay Trust Act in 2001. Today 4,800 tribal women are associated with Sahaj from 96 villages and organized into 170 Self-Help Groups. 500Women are getting regular income from craft activities, along with Food and Nutrition awareness, Women reproductive health and hygiene awareness. Sahaj is working on Gandhian philosophy and Fair Trade values. We seeks to promote sustainable development by offering better earning opportunity through training, designing and marketing of the products to securing the rights of marginalized women. SAHAJ provides comprehensive training and support services that enable tribal families to earn home-based livelihoods through their handicraft skills, as an alternative to seasonal urban migration. This increase family incomes, allows children to remain in school and stabilize families in safer, healthier environments. Association No. of Women Craft based activities 500 Own enterprises 1600 Seasonal involvement in crafts 700 Support services 1900 Master craftsperson 35 Trainers 110 Second generation joined 30 Women supported family enterprises 35 All the women have their insurance and artisans cards from Development commissioner (handicrafts). This identity is a special proud for them. Apart from that, they have their own health cards, credit cards and aadhar cards. These identities empower them in their day to day life and provide them courage to fight for their rights and problems. SAHAJ is a self sustain organization, so there is no big donation accepted for. Though we take up projects from different government departments like, DC handicrafts, NABARD, commissioner cottage, DIC, Gujarat state Handloom Handicraft, Social justice, DRDA, Tribal sub plan etc for the skill development, design development and capacity building of the artisans. Corporate like GNFC, Vodafone foundation, Axisbank foundation, RPG’s CEAT and Raychem, help us to work for different projects for the people as well as they do market our products into mainstream market through purchase of Handicrafts and helping us establish shop in shop. Internationally we are working in association with MG Motors, Australian Consulate, Mumbai, Women On Wings, Netherlands. DW shop, Germany, SETU the bridge, USA, Moksha Imports USA, Paul Hemlyne Foundation, UK, CBI, Netherlands, Aid to Artisans, USA, Social Impact International, USA. Their helps are very small still associations are very strong.
Vision and Mission
Sahaj envisions socio-economic empowerment of women through art and craft-based activities to secure their position in society. Its mission is to empower tribals by providing capacity building and business development support services to develop their craft and entrepreneurial skills.
Political & Religious Declarations
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Political Affiliation
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Religious Affiliation
Location
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Headquarters
Sahaj An Organisation for Women's Development Servey No.237/250, Kachala Faliya, NH 47, Indor Ahmedabad Highway, Village Dhadhela. Block: Limkheda, Dist. Dahod
Directions, Dahod, Gujarat -
Offices in Cities
Dahod
Other Details
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Type
Non-profit
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Sub Type
Trust
Website
Technology Adoption
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SOC 2 Compliant
No
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Financial Management
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Beneficiary Management