When a 22-year-old girl shows the community how to become a budding entrepreneur right after college, it shows a resolve and commitment of the youth of our country. Disha Tandon is now promoting Shibori and Bandhej works from Rajasthan for more than three years, having established everything on her own with no entrepreneurial background whatsoever. Plan India Impact Awards recognized this youth in the Category of Young Change-maker (Female). Like many other young entrepreneurs set on a path of social development, she too had a tough time convincing her family of her plan and passion.

Disha started her journey from NIFT, Chennai where her curriculum and workshops opened new dimensions to the world of artisans and craftsmen of various art-works. Disha met a craft-woman from Sujangarh Village – Amrita – who owned an NGO back in her village. Amrita was a seasoned craftsperson who could train Disha under her wings in multiple manners. Clearly impressed by Amrita’s work, Disha recognized this opportunity and set out to make her dream come true by moving to Sujangarh village and setting up her work there.

Being a typical urbanite, her family was concerned about her wellbeing living in a village, where even drinking water was an issue. Disha, determined and committed to the core, was all set to move to Sujangarh nonetheless. The challenge that her work was going to address had a far wider reach towards the beneficiaries or the communities who were involved in this traditional work at Churu. There were 50 women to begin with Disha’s work of designs that included Shibori and Bandhej. These women, who were a part of her cluster had noticeable rise in their economic conditions, even when COVID-19 pandemic was on the rise.

Despite the pandemic, Disha saw an opportunity to be of help to these crafts women, under the guidance of Amrita, her mentor. Soon her team of women workers grew from 50 to 100 and thereafter from 100 to 200. Impacting so many lives was a part of Disha’s dream and she rejoiced to have accomplished the same, inside a space that she shared with rural women.

Soon she launched a brand for ‘Bandhani’ designs under the trademark Leera. Interestingly, she placed one of the artisans as the Director of her brand Leera. This most importantly bridged the gap between an artisan and a designer and helps the brand to address to the root level problems that she aimed at. Disha never discriminated against anyone based on caste, community or class and always encouraged diversity in her group of women and young girls.

The women associated with these groups now actively participate in producing the season's collection which has helped them become financially independent. Disha perfectly blends the easy-to-use tech-based interventions with conventional approaches for awareness generation activities. She uses audio-visual media for financial literacy, body image, narrating inspiring stories etc. and Nukkad Nataks, Chetna Geets for awareness generation activities.

Disha sets a perfect example on how effective community-led innovative approaches can lead to social upliftment of vulnerable sections of the society. Her workers were recognized in their own communities and were consulted for important decisions too. This was something that these women had never experienced before in their homes or in their communities. Disha led them to a life of dignity and identified the strengths of the artisans’ community.