In 1989 the Dastkar Ranthambhore project was founded to help with the the displacement of villages in the creation of a national tiger reserve.   Dastakr currently works with over 75 craft groups, making high quality hand made textiles, as well as other handicraft items.

Currently this project is completely self sustaining through the sales of their craftwork.  They no longer receive any funding and their sales are stable.  It provides income and employment to women in communities that were equally isolated and threatened. Today 360 women from 4 villages are part of the Dastkar Project doing quilting, patchwork, block printing, bandini and sequin embroidery, based on traditional local skills that had been nearly abandoned.

The organization helps to organize a self help group that provides women with microloans.  This microloan program is unique in that the women loan money to each other, successfully acting as their own bank.  Money is paid back within 6 months but each month they pay an interest rate.  New groups that are receiving loans can borrow up to Rps 5000 ($111) and older groups can receive up to Rps 10,000 ($222).  First time loans are given for health reasons.  The women started this banking system to meet group need.

Case Study: 

Twelve years ago a young woman burnt herself to death in Sherpur village where the Dastkar Ranthambhore project resides.  The reason why Dhapu killed herself were economics - her newly widowed sister-in -law and 3 children were coming to live with her, and the family had no means to sustain them.  Barely able to put together a dowry for her own 12 year old daughter Indira, how could she provide for three other girl children? Today, Indira and her cousin Pinky are happily married and the widowed sister in law and her daughters are working and earning - through the Dastkar Ranthambhore Project that brought new hope to women in the dry villages surrounding the Ranthambhore Park.