“Enhanced traditional skills

to produce contemporary

textiles to strengthen the rural economy”

Annual Report2015 - 16

Message from Rajnish Jain

PO Tripuradevi, via Berinag Dist. Pithoragarh, Kumaon - 262531

Uttarakhand, India

(+91) 5964 244943 info@avani-kumaon.orgwww.avani-kumaon.org

On the cover this year, we proudly present Radha, a hearing and speech impaired girl, who we have taken into the fold here at AVANI. She has blossomed as a silk weaver of the highest calibre and now supports her family through her income. Our livelihood generation program continues to help people like Radha and others in rebuilding their lives and making a living in their own village. The extremely short collection season and massive forest fires that engulfed the pine needles this year challenged our efforts to generate clean energy for rural homes from pine needles. The challenge turned into an opportunity as we went to the drawing board to recast our strategy, from setting up 100+ kW size power plants to 10+ kW size ones, for which collection can be done in a small period, enabling creation of rural microenterprises while regenerating biodiversity.

We have a new addition to the Abhivyakti School; an earthy mud-block structure housing the classes, built close to the play ground which continues to be the heart of the school. We once again thank all the individuals and institutions, who generously contributed their time, efforts and funds helping us continue our work of developing conservation based livelihoods.

Rajnish Jain

Development Activities - Renewable and Clean Energy

• Solar energy for rural homes.• Electricity and cooking charcoal from Pine needles.

Training and Human Resource Development Activities

• Weavers’ training.• Workshops on individual development• Training on gender issues.• Theatre workshops.• Training in knitting.

Supporting Activities

• Abhivyakti School.• Avani Campus• Employee development.• Funding Partners• Institutional collaborations

Livelihoods and Income Generation Activities• Textiles - Spinning, dyeing, weaving, knitting and

tailoring.• Cultivation - Dye plants, wild silk and soap nuts.• Processing - Dyes, pigments, watercolors and crayons.• Product marketing

Women Empowerment

• Self help credit groups.• Micro credit.• International Womens day

What are we

About

The Bora community in Kumaon still work with Takli

(Drop Spindlle) – a hand tool, for spinning wool.

But most of them were on the verge of abandoning

this craft due to lack of economic incentive.

Hand spinning takes time and, just like any other

handicraft, cannot be compared with machine

made products, just on the basis of quantity generated.

Avani has increasingly focused on hand spun wool

in the past year and we were keen on preserving

the craft. After discussion with the spinners, the

wages were restructured based on the time invested.

Now more of them are interested in continuing

to hand spin wool.

A new coordination centre for spinning has been

established at Oliagaon village. We engage 93

spinners through this centre, who are continuously trained. Thus, a dying

craft have been revived and is expected to grow

in times to come.

Reviving handspinning of wool

Avani is committed to provide livelihood solutions in the villages to prevent migration of workforce and impart financial independence to the rural women

Data points-

• Total wages earned INR 18 lacs for artisans and farmers, out of this, INR 2.07 lacs – rural income generation from dye material collection alone

• Income of INR 41.8 lacs generated for local staff and artisans

• The livelihood program has benefitted 1400 artisans and farmers across 50 villages

• Indigofera Tinctoria cultivation 71 farmers• Avani Himalayan Blue Pigment 3.5 kg • Plant Yield 60 kg seeds and 915 kg leaves• 4 low cost green houses for vegetables constructed in

Morari and Tunera• 3756 trees of soapnut, walnut, harada and indigo

cultivated over 18 acres of wasteland• Kumkum production totaled at 392 kg across all centers• INR 48 lacs – Earthcraft revenue from the prodcuts• INR 2.4 lacs – revenue from sale of natural dyes and

pigments• Total 355 share holders of Earthcraft – 91 new

Others –

• Collaboration with Textile Consultant from IIT Kanpur for the standardization of cultivation and extraction of dye plants specially Indigo, Eupatorium and Madder

• Focus on planting and extraction of Indigo• The Extraction for Eupatorium dye has proven effective

in controlling this invasive species.• Decentralized dye extraction units to be installed in

Dharamgarh and Digoli, in the coming year.• Our soap nut is tested and certified by GOTS, making it

viable to approach international markets

Theyear at a

Glance Livelihood and

Income Generation

Avani continues to work to channelize the harmful energy of pine needles towards clean energy for rural needs. The intended side effect is the regeneration of the native ecosystem.

• Rural Income of INR 2.77 lacs generated through pine needle collection

• In all 93 people participated in collection• Over the next three years, 50 small scale

(10 KW) pine needle based power plants are proposed to be set up. Groundwork has already started

• Two sites have been identified and equipment for one 10 KW plant has been ordered.

Clean and Renewable Energy for

Rural Electrification

Deepa devi of Morari village walks a few miles every year collecting fuelwood before she can cook a meal for her family. She also does not have adequate access to water, herbs and timber, the life support her family has traditionally depended on forests. Her family does not have a permanent source of income.

Come summers, and the forest around her village is raging with fires spread by pine needles. While the fore destroys life around her village, Deepa wonders if this fire could cook in her home instead of destroying her forest, life would be wonderful.

When Avani initiated the set up of pine needle gasification power plant in Chachret, deepa was amongst the first set of people to come forward for pine needle collection. She has earned a considerable sum of money and is amongst the top collectors. Not only has she a source of income to bank upon and cooking fuel for her kitchen, she also has noticed the regeneration of vegetation in her collection area.

Plants like Kafal (Bay Berry), Hisalu (Himalayan Raspberry) and Kilmora have started spring up in the area, which is now less prone to fire. There is more grass around for the cattle to eat.

She may not understand terms like ecosystem regeneration or the positive impact of a biodiversity, but she is sure that something positive is taking place.

Generating Electricity. Regenerating the

Ecosystem.

Kamla devi, a resident of Bhooni, a remote village in Pithoragarh distt, was

married at the age of 19 years. Her family has

traditionally been engaged in agriculture and cattle

rearing. Being the girl child of a poor household, she

was unable to undergo any formal education.

Nevertheless, Kamla and her husband got engaged in their spare time with Avani’s

spinning and weaving centre in Chankana. They slowly

improved their productivity in spinning wool and silk,

and as a result substantially increased their income. She

also convinced her family to start cultivation and

collection of natural dye materials such as indigo.

She is an active member of the Women’s Self-Help Savings and Credit Group

for her village. The savings help her in her dreams to

educate her four children. She wants them to have

a financial stable life .She derives a lot of joy in propagating positive rural development activities for

her community.

• 32 groups comprising of 319 members.• Micro loans worth INR 2.43 lacs provided

by SHGs in the last 3 years• Loans worth INR 1.24 lacs recovered till

date.• Challenges faced due to migration of

members• Focus on restructuring groups to involve

only active members

Self HelpGroups

Uttrakhand

Our Field

Centres

Our Centres -

• Avani, Tripuradevi• Dharamghar• Baasti• Thanga• Digoli• Sukana• Chankana• Jamnanagar

Villages associated-

4410060921131605

Marketing workshop

• In collaboration with Women on Wings.• Discussions on retail, strategic planning

and customer feedback attended by 7 staff members

Standardization of Natural Products

• Training by Michael Garcia of Plants et Couleurs, Lauris, France.

• Indigo extraction and dyeing details.• Cotton and linen dyeing.• Increased color ranges in pigments and

extract.• Standardizing water color consistency.

Weavers Training

• 10 weavers from different centers trained.

Theatre Workshop

• Plays about pressing social and environmental issues.

• Plays performed at Dharamgarh. Chankana and Chhachret.

• In collaboration with Ninad, a music group.

Gender Issues Training

• 3 ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions attended by 15 staff members.

• 220 women trained in consecutive village meetings.Topics covered - • Linkages of power privilege.• Gender norms• Understanding gender roles in the

work environment

TrainingAnd

Workshops

Retail Presence

• 13 more retail store added to the network.• A total of 33 stores carry Earthcraft products in India.

Exhibitions and Conferences

• International Conference and exhibitions on natural dyes in Louris, France organised by Couleur Garance

• Presentation at the Cultural center Bratislava.• Presentation at conference by BREND in Breschia,

Italy. This was part of the Textile Symposium.

Online Presence

• Started the online store this year - www.earthcraft.in• Our products have been showcased on source4style

- www.lesouk.co

Marketing Activities

Rainwater Harvestinng

• Added 94,000 liters capacity to the already existing rainwater storage infrastructure (625,000 liters) in the campus.

• This tank is under the newly constructed school building.

Abhivyakti School

• Completed construction of the new school block using compressed stabalised earth blocks with technology from Auroville’s Earth Institute.

• Application for formal registration submitted.• Total strength - 25 chilldren• Classes - Nursery to 4th standard

Organic Vegetable Garden

• Installed low cost solar fencing around the vegetable patch to protect it from monkeys

• Plan to conduct demonstrations to solar fencing for the local farmers.

Clean fuel for cooking

• Using pine charcoal as an alternative fuel for cooking in the campus kitchen.

• Installed parabolic solr cooker• Reduced LPG bill from Rs. 48,000 to Rs. 27,000

International Women’s Day Celebration

• 244 women from 27 villages participated.• Screened motivational videos showcasing success

stories of women from rural India.• Discussions with the group about relevant issues.• Award ceremony to recognise contributions of the

artisans.

This year at our

Campus

The Campus and its Activities

Community Kitchen

• We shifted to our new kitchen constructed with mud blocks. This is visualized as a place for Avani team, volunteers and visitors to meet, cook and eat together.

The Campus and its Activities

Our Funding Agencies

Thank you

Our Individual

DonorsMs. Sulata KhonaMr. Amit JoshiMr. Naveen SatiMr. Asim PatelMs. Anya LindutromMs. Ankita VermaMr. Mohan KrishnswanyMr. Sunil Chauhan Ms. LizzetteMr. Anil ShahMr. Sachina Bhatia Ms. Bergerault FloreMs. Disha KhatiMr. Amar Singh MahraMs. Bencze Szilvia Mr. Vinay ChandraMs. AnvitaMr. Raj KumarMr. NoelMs. Jeaneth ScharingMr. Rachit pantMr. Rohit goyalMr. Manas NandaMs. Stella SchallerMr. Jayant HardikarMr. Kim Jae SangM/S. Vitti Desiggns pvt. LtdM/S Ananta GasifireMr. Rajneesh DhariyalMr. Agastya BhatiaMr. Mayank Varama Ms. Deepmala duttaMr. Martin Kunz Ms. Nisha DalvieMr. Fabian dominikMr. Markus EstoniaM/S NagnataPolytechnic GanaiPolytechnic kanda M/S APAAR

Our Individual

Donors

Collaborating institutes

for this year

Awards and

Recognitionso far

• Spark The Rise Award, Mahindra Rise• Janki Devi Bajaj Award, Jamnalal

Bajaj Foundation• Earth Care Award, JSW, TOI and CEE• Uttarakhand Energy Conservation

Award, UREDA• Most Innovative Micronterprise of the

Year – Citi foundation• Power of Ideas , CIIE, IIM Ahmedabad• Green Trophy by CII• Wantrapreneur• T N Khoshoo Award• India Awakened Agents of Change,

Hindustan Times• Sustainable Fashion Award, (Maneka

Gandhi)• Inclusive Innovation Award, IMC• CNBC – Young Turks award

The Governing

Body

• Mr. Yogeshwar Kumar, He is a civil engineer, a social worker and a hydro power expert

• Mr. Rajnish Jain, Cofounder Avani, Social entrepreneur

• Mr. Sudeep Agrawal, He is a Chartered Accountant

• Ms. Ritu Sethi, She is a craft expert, and founder of Craft Revival Trust

• Dr. Shekhar Pathak, Retired professor, historian

• Ms. Sheila Josephine Mcgowan, Founder of latika roy foundation and a writer

• Mr. Rajendra Kumar Joshi, Manager at Kumaon Earthcraft(staff Member)

Our General

Body Members

Our General

Body Members

• Mr. Jasod singh• Mr. Balram singh • Mr. Fakir Ram • Ms. Hema Agri • Ms. Radhuli Bora • Mr. Govind Singh Bora • Ms. Kamla Bora • Mr. Kumud Pant • Mr. Mahesh Ram • Mr. Verma Ram • Mr. Deep pant • Ms. Rewati Bora • Mr. Heera singh Dharmshaktu • Mr. Pan singh Mahara • Ms. Rashmi Bharti • Mr. Mohan Singh Mehara • Mr. Kishan Singh Mehera • Mr. Hayat Singh • Ms. Deepa Mehta • Ms. Santoshi Dhapola• Ms. Deepa Bhouriyal • Mr. Rajnish Pant • Mr. Chanchal Singh • Mr. Diwan Ram Arya • Mr. Kedar Singh Bhouriyal • Ms. Mamta Joshi

Balance Sheet

Sources of FundsCapital Fund 9,317,261.58Utilised Grants for Fixed Assets 21,137,166.00Unutilised Grants/Donation /Awards & Intt. 25,563,712.69Current Liabilities 2,651,376.44

TOTAL 58,669,516.71

Application of funds

Fixed Assets 26,157,830.56Cash/Bank 26,796,772.94Closing Stock 5,66,689.00Other Current Assets 5,148,224.21

TOTAL 58,669,516.71

Our Financial Results2015 - 16

Summarized Financial Results(2015-16)

Income &Expenditure Unutilized Opening Balance

FCRA 1,70,07,164.78Local 2,88,083.29

IncomeLocalGrant 10,00,000.00Sales 3,37,803.00 School Fee/ Donations 2,83,998.00 Interest 89,774.00 Closing Stock 5,66,689.00 22,78,264.00

FCRAGrants 1,86,96,362.00 Donation 35,935.00 Interest 19,53,374.00

TOTAL 4,02,59,183.07

ExpenditureLocalOpening Stock 7,32,059.00 Grants 6,95,234.00 Purchase 1,35,207.00 School/Donation/Others 1,77,609.08 Other Expenditure(Net) 3,91,945.35 Depreciation 4,12,109.00 17,60,272.73

FCRAGrants 1,22,78,360.30Awards 1,48,527.00Donation 5,27,723.00 1,29,54,610.30

Unutilized Grants/Donations/AwardsLocal 6,02,085.21FCRA 2,46,98,408.48Interest FCRA 39,817.00

Income Fot The Year 2,03,989.35

TOTAL 4,02,59,183.07

PO Tripuradevi, via Berinag Dist.

Pithoragarh, Kumaon - 262531

Uttarakhand, India

(+91) 5964 244943 info@avani-kumaon.orgwww.avani-kumaon.org