Heera Ji

In the quiet corners of Mandi, my life took an evolving turn through Karuka by Ashray Foundation. As Heera, I embarked on a transformative path, learning to harness the untapped potential of pine needles. Through meticulous training, I mastered the creation of producing pine needle products like exquisite tea coasters, chapati casserole boxes, and pen stands, and extended to delicate arts of candle and herbal soap making, each piece a testament to sustainable craftsmanship. Today, I stand as both a protagonist and a guide, training other women in Mandi to script their own stories of empowerment.

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Seeta Ji

What defines empowerment—circumstance or choice? For me, it was a conscious choice that reshaped my journey, thanks to the transformative support of Project Cheer-Urja. Once confined to the humdrum of domestic chores and farming in Mandi, I embraced the opportunity to learn soap making, scented candle crafting, and intricate handicrafts. These skills became the foundation of my livelihood, empowering me to stand tall as the financial backbone of my family. During Himachal Pradesh’s elections, I had the privilege of sharing my story with Aaj Tak’s renowned anchor, Anjana Om Kashyap. To see my voice resonate across the nation, inspiring countless women to believe in their dreams, was truly life-changing. My journey affirms that even the smallest steps, when taken with determination, can lead to monumental change.

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Kavita Ji

Karuka's unwavering support and discerning tutelage catalyzed Kavita Didi's meteoric success, culminating in the sold-out phenomenon of Regal Rudolph. Her ascent exemplifies our commitment to curating an exclusive guild of artisans, where tradition seamlessly intertwines with sustainability, forging an indelible legacy of empowerment. Such triumphs resonate with Karuka’s overarching vision, sculpting a future where artistic mastery and transformative opportunity converge in a symphony of cultural renaissance.

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Ram Pyari Ji

Hailing from Shiladan, Maandurga SHG’S secretary, Rampyari ji is involved with collection of pine needles for production of various handicraft products. Along with exploring the creative tenets, it also helps her to take strides towards fiscal empowerment. Keeping environment consciousness at the core, the pine needle collection helps clear vast lands of pine needles, controlling the untimely hazardous forest fires and creating a safe space for the locals to thrive well in this ecosystem. Rampyari ji stands as one of the forerunners in the marathon of leading sustainable changes through her skilled craftsmanship, one pine product at a time.

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