TARAgram, Tribal Women in Orchha, India Make Recycled Paper Products

In Orchha, India, waste cotton becomes beautiful recycled paper products. I had the opportunity to travel on the Unforgettable India tour with Intrepid TraveI. We visited Delhi, Varanasi, Bandhavgarh National Park, Orchha, Khajuraho, Chanderi and Agra.

We stopped at TARAgram, one of Intrepid’s responsible tourism projects. TARA is short for Technology & Action for Rural Advancement and is a social enterprise based on a “waste to wealth” model. It employs more than 40 women, including Sahraiya tribal women; who earlier had no source of income. We toured the facility and learned the process of recycled paper making from cotton products such as used clothing.

One ton of TARAgram recycled rag paper saves 3 tons of wood and 100 cubic metres of water. Products such as notebooks, frames, pen holders, gift bags, paper and lanterns are sold on-site, in shops in India and on the web.