A Raipur Startup Raised Incomes for 200 Artisans by 30% — By Changing How Traditional Craft Gets Made

Santu Tekam lives in Patangarh, a small town in Madhya Pradesh where Gond tribal painting is as ordinary as farming. In his village of about 1,000 people, nearly 100 practise the art. Some are still learning. His wife helps him with the painting. His parents tend to their fields. For years, the income from his craft was seasonal and uncertain. The monsoon meant no painting. Galleries came and went. During COVID, the work dried up entirely. Then someone called. Santu Tekam paints Gond art in Patangarh, where nearly 100 locals practise it   “During COVID, when I did not have any work, Didi ga...