De'haat begins where possibilities seem to end. We originated in rural India, where opportunities for women to earn a dignified livelihood were limited or non-existent. Today, our artisans earn at least ₹6,000–7,000 per month — almost a 400% increase over what their unskilled work paid before.
We are not a charity. We are a parallel industry for the women of rural India — paying for their work, watering the seeds of their independence, and growing the gardens of their daughters' futures.
Past
Where it all began
A school girl at Anandam Vidyalay in Pauni, Bhandara, who cared deeply for the environment, was concerned about the heavy use of plastic in everyday pens. She rolled an old newspaper around a refill — and created an instrument truly mightier than a sword, and extraordinarily eco-friendly.
Unskilled women could roll these pens at home and earn a decent livelihood, making their and their children's future bright. The seeds tucked into the paper would continue to make the earth green even after the pen was used and thrown away. From day one, De'haat was about empowering women financially while caring for future generations.
Present
Where we are today
In rural India, an unskilled woman can earn no more than ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 after a hard day's manual work. Widows and single mothers are often abandoned by family — and the first toll this takes is on the education of their children.
De'haat artisans now earn ₹6,000–7,000 per month, a roughly 400% increase. Farming being seasonal, De'haat fills the gap as a parallel industry. Proceeds are split between the women and a fund for an agro-based school in the village — turning a single craft into an entire ecosystem.
Future
Where we're headed
De'haat plans to grow both vertically and horizontally. Our plan is to create an eco-system for villages. Only handmade products have the potential to create livelihood opportunities at scale, help flourish our rich culture, and boost the rural economy.
We're building toward a future where every village has the infrastructure, skill base, and market access to support its own women — putting the rural artisan back on the global stage.
The Dehaat Story
1. The Beginning
The seed sprouted in a pot far away from the wet soil it could feel. It wondered where it was. Looking around, it started anticipating, seeing as far as the eyes could reach. It thought to itself, "am I supposed to be here?" And then it started to search for meaning — just like the life of that woman in the village, the way she accepted her life around her children and her husband inside the four walls. It was home that mattered the most.
2. A Desire to Grow
As the plant found its way, it started growing within the boundaries, even in an enclosed space, inside the four walls. It saw a window one day that gave it a glimpse of the sun — just like the longing of that woman in the village who had a desire to grow under the sun, in the open air, with roots deep enough to endure any storm and grow endlessly.
3. Rain of Challenges
All ardent desires find their way; the plant, like the woman in that village, tried too. That day, lightning and thunder howled restlessly and a storm hit. It was a moment of following the window, but it brought a rain of challenges — and it felt like the walls cracked open suddenly when her husband left for the heavenly abode due to cancer. The sense of safety blew with the storm, and that is when she broke open and survived.
4. Escape for Freedom
As she chose to be bent rather than broken, she stretched herself and escaped the boundaries to face the real world. The crawling insecurities motivated her to step out of the zone with nothing else but the will — the will to secure herself and her family, the will to act.
5. Sustained
The other side of the world was less acquainted with the plant; it seemed naturally harsh as the shade blew. And the woman in the village, with all that came her way, sustained the sun, the rain, and the storm — and learned to embrace it all. Because it made her strong, and gave her the strength to finally act for herself and her family.
6. Growth
The plant didn't know its ability to gracefully sprout — not in one conventional direction, but gently reaching every place it can. As the woman started to open her arms far and wide and sprouted new leaves and branches to welcome more space and freedom — she became the one who endured the sufferings and grew out of compassion, naturally reaching out to everyone like her.
7. Flourished Under the Sun
After planting its roots in the new world, it bloomed new flowers and flourished under the sun. The sun gave that woman the warmth of comfort, and ever since reminded her of the radiant support she had during her difficult times.
8. New Sprouts
When the plant is grown in the right ecosystem, it flourishes and expands to embark on its journey. And as the plant grew to sustain its roots, she inspired other women to walk on a similar path, to sprout in their own ways, and encouraged them to grow strong. This marked the genesis of a community motivated to inspire many.
9. Growing Together
The plant nurtures the ecosystem — it makes and breaks it. The shared motivation and emotional gut encouraged each of them to hold a safe space, to grow in their unique form, supporting one another's direction of expansion, collectively living many lives together.
10. Garden of Stories
One plant at its genesis becomes the garden of stories. Now, they have everything required to nurture each other and water when in need. The organic garden — with roots deep-rooted in shared values — blooms more vibrant to become a garden of shared stories. In this way, the garden with all the plants comes to life with its unique journey — and this, we all proudly know as De'haat Foundation today.
Our Impact
Direct and indirect outcomes created by De'haat Foundation.
Direct Impact
Tangible change
400% increase in monthly income of working rural populace.
Increasing PPP and per capita income of Rural India at the grass-root.
80% reduction in plastic through upcycled newspaper pens.
100% reduction in cutting wood for pencils.
Seeds wrapped in covers — a constant reminder of tree plantation, a new habit.
Indirect Impact
Ripple effects
A more work-focused society in Rural India.
Avenues opening for new social models and rural entrepreneurship.
Sustainable development to the core.
A self-confident woman creates confidence in the whole eco-system.
Gender equality implemented through financial strengthening.
Quality education for children — no one left out for want of money.
