New Delhi, June 8, 2025: Indha, a woman-led social enterprise incubated by Literacy India, has trained and empowered over 10,000 women artisans across four Indian states by turning discarded materials into handmade, eco-conscious products. The initiative, launched by Captain Indraani Singh—India’s first woman commander of an Airbus-300—focuses on creating sustainable livelihoods for rural women while promoting conscious consumption.
Initially started in Village Daulatabad, Gurgaon, Indha has grown into ten production and design units that recycle items such as CPUs, packaging wood, fabric waste, and glass bottles. The resulting products range from home décor and office items to stationery, utility bags, and corporate gifts, all created with a focus on sustainability and traditional craftsmanship.
“We’ve always looked inward — finding beauty, utility, and purpose in what’s already around us,” said Capt. Indraani Singh, Founder of Indha and Literacy India. “Our design thinking is rooted in frugal innovation — from making bags out of newspapers, using old sarees for children’s dresses, or converting waste wood into art. This ethos eventually led us to set up our own paper recycling unit. For us, sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s our foundation.”
Indha’s women artisans are actively involved in every stage of production — from designing and crafting to mentoring new trainees. They work across disciplines like embroidery, stitching, block printing, and papercraft. Many also participate in product development and logistics, forming the backbone of the enterprise’s operations.
Technology plays a key role in their collaboration. WhatsApp groups are used as daily design forums, where artisans and design leads share feedback and inspiration. The use of AI-powered design tools has further enabled cross-centre creativity and knowledge sharing.
Indha's sustainable approach has attracted corporate interest, with companies like KPMG India, Orange, Dell, Intach, Teleperformance, Sita India, and BioDerma sourcing eco-friendly corporate gifts and supporting artisan-led initiatives. These partnerships reflect a growing corporate shift toward ESG-aligned and purpose-led procurement.
Through institutional collaborations and a growing presence in exhibitions, Indha is positioning itself as a scalable model of circular economy focused on women, innovation, and sustainability.
As India prioritizes sustainability, climate action, and grassroots skill-building, initiatives like Indha demonstrate how social entrepreneurship can create inclusive economic impact while addressing environmental concerns.
