A comprehensive Baseline Survey of the Kapdaganda Cluster was conducted during March–April 2025 to evaluate the developmental status of the embroidery craft and its artisan ecosystem. A customized questionnaire was developed for the cluster team, focusing on critical parameters, and was used to collect data from 25–30 artisans and 5–10 master artisans. The questionnaire was structured around key indicators reflecting social, economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions.
In addition to the survey, the research team conducted multiple focus group discussions (FGDs) and one-on-one interviews with artisans, enabling the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. These interactions provided nuanced insights into the challenges and aspirations of the Dongaria Kondh artisan community.
Based on the findings, a structured assessment framework was devised to identify core areas of improvement and guide strategic interventions. The assessment is organized into nine thematic categories, each comprising multiple indicators. Each indicator was scored on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest), allowing for a comparative evaluation of strengths and gaps across the cluster.
The areas of improvement have been grouped into eight thematic categories, T1 to T8 as listed in above chart, for clarity and strategic planning. These thematic categories holistically encompass a wide range of socio-economic, cultural, environmental, and infrastructural dimensions that impact the sustainability and growth of the Kapdaganda craft, and ultimately the entire cluster.
T1. Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods
Focuses on the financial well-being of artisans through market access, income generation, and supportive infrastructure.
a - Market Access and Visibility
Limited reach to broader markets restricts potential growth.
b - Fair Pricing and Income
Artisans often receive below-value compensation.
c - Access to Financial Support
Lack of formal banking and credit access affects growth.
d - Infrastructure and Workspace
Inadequate facilities hinder productivity and collaboration.
e - Monitoring and Data Collection
Absence of records limits planning and policy targeting.
f - Entrepreneurship and Value Addition
Limited capacity for artisans to innovate or convert embroidery into diversified product lines and services.
g - Supply Chain and Logistics
Poor transportation and material flow infrastructure limit consistent production and delivery.
h - Access to Government Schemes
Awareness and utilization of schemes like NRLM, ODOP, and PM Vishwakarma Yojana are low among artisan households.
T2. Cultural Preservation and Heritage
Addresses protection, recognition, and promotion of the craft’s traditional and spiritual value.
a - Cultural Preservation Efforts
Oral traditions, rituals, and iconography related to Kapdaganda remain largely undocumented and at risk.
b - Legal Protection and GI Tag Awareness
While Kapdaganda now enjoys GI Tag status, most community members are unaware of the legal or commercial benefits it offers.
c - Storytelling and Cultural Branding
The rich symbolic language of the embroidery remains under-utilized in storytelling, branding, and education.
d - Inclusion in Tourism Circuits
The craft and its community are not yet integrated into tourism routes or tribal eco-cultural destinations.
e - Cultural Event Participation and Representation
Artisan involvement in cultural fairs, heritage festivals, and tribal art conclaves remains minimal.
f - Archival and Museum Inclusion
Few pieces of Kapdaganda embroidery are represented in national or state museum collections, and digital archiving is absent.
T3. Capacity Building and Skill Development
Focuses on continuous learning, skill upgradation, and leadership creation within the artisan ecosystem.
a - Skill Development Programs
Existing training is sporadic and lacks structured follow-ups.
b - Design Innovation
Modern aesthetics are yet to be meaningfully integrated into traditional motifs.
c - Leadership and Mentorship Development
Few avenues exist to groom local artisan leaders capable of guiding community clusters.
d - Trainer and Master Artisan Networks
The region lacks structured master trainer networks that could ensure standardized skill transmission.
e - Business and Soft Skills Training
Artisans have limited access to training in negotiation, time management, communication, and pricing.
f - Monitoring and Evaluation
No regular assessments exist to track learning outcomes and productivity improvements post-training.
T4. Design, Innovation, and Product Development
Focuses on market driven product and design development
a. - Adaptation to Textiles, Paper, Decor
Very limited application beyond shawls and scarves; no formal experimentation.
b. - Originality in Design Forms
Rich in symbolic forms but lacks new compositions or contemporary reinterpretations.
c. - Access to Formal Design Mentorship
No structured access to NIFT/NID or state design bodies; sporadic NGO inputs only.
d. - New Product Development
Few attempts, mostly in stalls or exhibitions; no dedicated product line planning.
e. - Cross-Cultural Inspiration
Minimal exposure to other traditions or market segments that could inspire innovation.
f. - Market Research and Feedback
Artisans rarely collect or apply customer feedback; no formal buyer-designer loops.
T5. Youth and Community Engagement
Focuses on market driven product and design development
a. - Youth Engagement
Younger generation participation is on a steady decline.
a. - Community Collaboration
Inter-village and artisan group coordination is limited.
c. - Parental and Family Influence on Craft Learning
Intergenerational learning is weakening due to migration and education demands, affecting skill transfer.
d. - Peer Motivation and Role Modeling
Lack of young artisan icons or peer-led motivation initiatives within the community.
e. - Community Festivals and Collective Making
Potential exists to strengthen engagement through community rituals, but these are not strategically used for collaborative production.
T6. Health, Sustainability, and Working Conditions
Targets physical well-being, eco-conscious production, and improved working environments.
a. - Health and Ergonomic Practices
Crafting conditions are ergonomically unsafe, leading to long-term musculoskeletal and vision issues.
b. - Sustainable Practices
Some adoption of eco-friendly materials is emerging, but widespread implementation is still limited.
c. - Access to Health and Social Security Services
Artisans lack regular access to health checkups, insurance, and welfare schemes specific to unorganized labor.
d. - Workplace Sanitation and Safety
Many artisans work in home-based settings without adequate lighting, ventilation, or cleanliness.
e. - Climate-Responsive Working Conditions
Seasonal disruptions (heat, monsoon) impact comfort, output, and safety, especially for hill-based artisans working without insulation or shade.
f - Storage and Display Solutions
Poor or absent storage and display facilities
g - Availability of Tools & Materials
Inferior quality local tools and materials
h - Dedicated Workspaces
Nonexistent communal or dedicated workspaces
T7. Digital Inclusion and Advocacy
Concerns the ability of artisans to engage with the digital economy and influence policies.
a. - Digital Literacy and Online Presence
Use of digital tools and social media is minimal.
b. - Policy Advocacy and Representation
Artisans lack direct involvement in policy formulation.
c. - Access to Digital Infrastructure
Inconsistent mobile networks, lack of devices, and poor digital infrastructure limit participation.
d. - E-commerce Readiness and Training
Artisans are not trained or supported to use digital platforms for selling their products.
e. - Content Creation and Language Accessibility
There is a scarcity of digital content (videos, tutorials, forms) in Odia or local tribal languages, making tools less accessible.
T8. Education and Knowledge Systems
Deals with functional literacy, integration of traditional wisdom, and institutional knowledge sharing.
a. - Functional Literacy and Education Access
Literacy rates among older artisans are low, limiting their ability to engage with formal systems.
b. - Traditional Knowledge
Craft heritage and tribal epistemologies are missing from school syllabi and formal education modules.
c. - Research and Knowledge Exchange
Collaboration with academic institutions remains limited, leading to underutilization of community knowledge.
d. - Skill-based Vocational Learning in Schools
Local schools rarely offer hands-on skill development related to crafts, leaving a disconnect between education and livelihood.
e. - Artisan-Led Community Learning Circles
Informal peer-to-peer and elder-to-youth teaching models exist but are not supported or institutionalized.
f - Language Inclusion and Multilingual Learning Tools
Lack of localized Odia/tribal language learning materials creates barriers to inclusive educational outreach.
T9. Climate Resilience and Environmental Impact
Explores how changing environmental patterns affect livelihoods and encourages ecological stewardship.
a - Impact of Climate on Livelihoods
Agricultural dependence makes artisans vulnerable to climate shifts.
b - Eco-friendly Resource Use
Some initiatives promote local, sustainable material use.
c - Environmental Education and Stewardship
Environmental knowledge is not fully linked to the craft.
d - Waste Management and Resource Efficiency
There are no systems for managing embroidery-related waste like scrap fabric or thread, nor is resource use monitored.
e - Climate Adaptation Awareness
There is limited understanding among artisans of climate risks and adaptation practices, such as water harvesting or shade-based workspaces.
f - Forest and Biodiversity Coexistence Practices
Although the community lives in and depends on forests, structured involvement in conservation programs is minimal.
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the Kapdaganda embroidery cluster is done based on findings from the Kapdaganda Development Assessment Framework.
Strengths
Cultural Uniqueness
The motifs used in Kapdaganda are deeply embedded in tribal myths, nature worship, and ceremonial significance, which cannot be replicated without understanding the embedded cultural context.
Recognized Heritage
The GI tag positions Kapdaganda in India's officially recognized heritage crafts, helping protect it from imitation and boosting market potential.
Artisan Skill Base
Dongaria women start learning embroidery in childhood from their elders, ensuring continuity and mastery passed down over generations.
Eco-centric Lifestyle
The community’s lifestyle inherently promotes resource conservation and use of biodegradable, low-impact materials.
Community Identity
Kapdaganda is not just decorative—it is a marker of identity, used in marriage, gifting, rituals, and clan bonding.
Weaknesses
Market Access
Kapdaganda products are seldom found in mainstream exhibitions or retail outlets, restricting sales potential and brand visibility.
Youth Disengagement
Modern education and migration trends have distanced youth from traditional crafts, reducing generational continuity.
Digital Illiteracy
Most artisans lack smartphones, digital literacy, or guidance to use online selling platforms and social media.
Inadequate Infrastructure
Artisans often work in cramped homes without proper lighting, clean water, or transit routes to nearby markets.
Financial Exclusion
Artisans rely on informal credit or local moneylenders and are often underpaid by intermediaries.
Low Documentation
Few academic, museum, or visual records exist that showcase the value and heritage of Kapdaganda embroidery.
Limited Innovation
The product range is still focused mainly on shawls, limiting opportunities for market expansion through home decor, apparel, or lifestyle products.
Opportunities
Skill and Design Development
Workshops, residencies, and tie-ups with design institutes can bring technical innovation while respecting cultural roots.
Digital Platforms
Online presence can help artisans reach national and global audiences, reducing dependence on middlemen.
Policy and Government Schemes
Leverage schemes like NRLM, TRIFED, ODOP, and PM Vishwakarma Yojana.These schemes provide funding, training, and marketing support, but require localized access facilitation for full impact.
Eco-tourism Integration
Embedding craft experiences within tourism itineraries can create immersive encounters for visitors, enhancing appreciation and offering direct income streams to artisans.
Global Craft Networks
Cross-border collaborations and recognition can increase the prestige and demand for Kapdaganda, opening new cultural diplomacy channels.
Climate Adaptation and Sustainability
The eco-friendly nature of the craft aligns well with climate-conscious markets; promoting this linkage can attract green patrons and funding.
Threats
Cultural Erosion
As younger generations move toward urban lifestyles, the deeper spiritual meanings and ceremonial roles of Kapdaganda risk being lost or commodified.
Market Exploitation
Without strong institutional protection, imitation products and unfair pricing by traders threaten artisan sustainability and authenticity of the craft.
Environmental Uncertainty
Since most artisans depend on farming as a primary income, irregular rains and crop failure can reduce time and income available for embroidery work.
Migration and Displacement
Young people migrating for work or education often leave traditional skills behind, weakening community knowledge transmission.
Technology Gaps
The lack of smartphones, internet connectivity, and digital training tools keeps artisans from accessing new platforms, opportunities, and knowledge.
Policy Gaps
Despite the existence of support schemes, ground-level access remains patchy due to bureaucratic hurdles, lack of awareness, and weak handholding.