Nari Dana

New appointment at Nari Dana

Karen Laister CRS staff, Nari Dana

There’s a new production manager at Nari Dana, CRS social enterprise: Mr Sankar Das.

Sankar is a Master Weaver who ran a small family weaving business for ten years before being appointed as the production manager of a business unit set up in Murshidabad to manufacture woven and sewn products for export. It employed 48 women, many of whom were trafficked into prostitution in Kolkata.

The Murshidabad centre closed in 2019 as part of a business restructuring but Janet Roberts, who originally set up the venture, recommended Sankar to CRS.

Currently the CRS skills training programme for women and the production of items at Nari Dana focuses on sewing and embroidery, but there are plans for Sankar to introduce weaving training and a new line of woven products. To this end, we are going to purchase some of the looms and equipment from the Murshidabad business.

The photo shows Sankar (left) and Janet (third from left) with some of the women from Nari Dana.

Archbishop of Canterbury learns about CRS on Kolkata visit

Karen Laister Nari Dana, Visitors

On 08 September 2019, CRS was greatly honoured by a visit from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, who was in Kolkata during a tour of India.

After giving a message during the Sunday service at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Archbishop and his wife, Caroline, toured the cathedral grounds where the educational and social service activities of the diocese were on show.

 

It was a great privilege for the CRS Director, Rig David, to be personally introduced to the Archbishop and his wife.

It was a wonderful opportunity to explain the work of CRS and Nari Dana. He presented them with stoles embroidered by women from Nari Dana.

The Archbishop also blessed the new Nari Dana sales outlet, recently created in Bishop’s House.

 

New display area for Nari Dana products

Karen Laister Buildings and facilities, Nari Dana

At 51 Chowringhee Road, just across from St Paul’s Cathedral, stands a spectacular colonial building. This is Bishop’s House, the official residence of the Bishop of Kolkata.

The Right Reverend Paritosh Canning, who was installed as the new Bishop in June 2019, was introduced to the work of CRS at the start of his tenure.

He was very impressed by the Nari Dana project and has generously made space in Bishop’s House for a sales outlet for Nari Dana.

A small area has been fitted out with shelves where products can be displayed. With many national and international visitors and dignitaries passing through Bishop’s House this is a great way to showcase the skills of the women of Nari Dana.