Role of social enterprise in women's empowerment: A case study of Sadhna

Sadhna is proud to have completed ten years of functioning as a social Enterprise that is co-owned by 700 women of Rajasthan. Seva Mandir a NGO in Udaipur started a small appliqué work program in the year 1998-the patchwork program (as Sadhna was called then) with a group of 15 women. The journey in the early years seemed long and difficult but there was probably more to it. The hard work and persistence paid off and Sadhna in 2004 became registered as for- Profit Mutual benefit trust with 235 members. Sadhna continues to walk with pride and confidence by attempting to make a remarkable change in the lives of ordinary rural women. Sadhna's task doesn't get fulfilled by alternative means of income generation but it goes on to make the poor women aware about their individual and social responsibilities and thus empowering them. Sadhna has continued its efforts in increasing the number of its artisans (beneficiaries) every year. Sadhna regularly interacts with its artisan members through meetings and workshops and tries to solve their problems/issues arising both at a personal and professional level. The foundation and the mission of Sadhna has always been to be committed to empower women, both economically and socially and enhance their self-esteem. Making its artisan members, self-sustainable and give them access and control over a significant financial and social resource, a status in their family and society.