Gratitude Factory in Varanasi

In many rural areas of India, women are unfortunately still suppressed. It is therefore often not easy for them to find fulfilling work. Since ShaktiMat's inception in 2006, our vision has been to create a place that supports women in becoming self-sufficient and leading financially independent lives.

GEETA DEVI (32)

"Before ShaktiMat, I had to work as a forced laborer in agricultural fields. Every day I sowed and harvested fields and sweated under the hot sun, which was very exhausting. Here I have a Dach over my head, a fan and I am relaxed. We are well equipped and the working environment is very clean and comfortable.

My life has changed so much since I started working here.

That's how I talk to you now! I talk to so many people now, so I've been able to overcome my shyness. Before I came here, I was afraid of talking to people. But since I've been earning my own money, I'm no longer under pressure. I can save for myself and am no longer dependent on my husband's income. I've become independent and I'm even supporting him at the moment.

We only have female colleagues at the Gratitude Factory, there are no male employees here. That's why there's never a bad word about this place in our village, because it's safe to work here. I feel like part of a family, all these women are like my sisters. We all come from different castes and believe in different religions, but we are all treated equally. There is no discrimination against each other.

I feel like I belong here. The people are warm, helpful and then there is the wonderful work we do here. I feel very connected to this place, it feels like my real home."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

NEETU YADAV (22)

"In my place, everyone wants girls to get married young - my parents included. But I don't want to get married. I was selected by a university, however, we don't have money for me to study. Before my father had a heart attack, we had a cattle feed business, but it had to close. My mother then had to work on a farm because his health had deteriorated.

My friend Radhika brought me here and I met Aunt Amma Ji (manager). She taught me how to print the fabric and that's how I started working here. I leave all my money to my parents. Now they have given up trying to marry me off. People tell my mother to send me to study and not to let me work. But how can they understand what we are going through here at home?

Before I came here, I had only one set of clothes. I had to wash it every night so I could wear it the next day - that was all I owned. It went on like that for a whole year. When I look back, things have improved so much. I now have many clothes to wear and it makes me incredibly happy to be able to support my parents financially.

One of the best moments was when Aunt Ji told me that I could apply for support from the ShaktiMat Emergency Medical Fund. I did so and we received medication. Since then, my father is feeling much better. Aunt Ji is kind and caring. She also takes care of the menstrual hygiene of all the girls here by providing sanitary napkins. After all, many girls here don't have such a thing, so it's good that it's offered."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

SIRA PATEL (20)

"Of course there were problems in our family, after all it's quite big. There's my husband, his brothers, their wives and all the children. They are all farmers. The people in my neighborhood don't like me working here. There is a lot of bad talk. The usual mentality that women should not work.

But this place is just wonderful. We get meals, earn good salaries and are always paid on time. No money is ever withheld here, no matter how many days we take off. I have daughters and I want them to be well educated and achieve something in their lives. Especially because it was not possible for me from the beginning. That's why I work hard and direct my life so that I can work for the future of my girls - that's my only concern. Everything I earn here I spend on my children. I use it to take care of them and that makes me incredibly happy.

Now my eldest daughter has been accepted into the ShaktiMat scholarship program. Bhaiya Ji (manager) encouraged me to make the application for it and now my daughter will go to a new private school. I am very happy that ShaktiMat is enabling my daughter to get a better education. After all, I want her to do really well.

My daughter is also happy about this. She will get all the support and is happy to go to a new school. She has already received the new school uniform. I want to thank ShaktiMat for caring about us and being so good to us. They understand our problems and provide us with everything we need here. We don't lack anything."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

REESHMA PATEL (26)

"I wanted to be a policewoman, but my in-laws forbade it. I live with my husband, his parents, his four brothers, their four wives and all our children. Everyone but me works in the field. Because of the bad weather conditions last year, the whole harvest was spoiled. We only made it because I work for ShaktiMat.

I give all my salary to my in-laws and don't keep a cent of it. They are very happy about this because, as the eldest daughter-in-law, I fulfill my duties properly. If I have to go shopping, I ask my mother-in-law for permission, then she may give me some money for it.

I get up at 3 a.m., feed the buffaloes and collect their dried cow dung to use as fuel for cooking later. After that, I clean the house, vacuum, prepare food for everyone, and fill the water jugs. Then I wake everyone else up, get my kids ready and send them off to school. After that, I wash the dishes and head off to work.

They give us as many paid absence days as we want here and never keep any money. When I take paid days off, I get bored quickly. I love working here and it doesn't make me tired.

We get paid very well here, we have free health insurance, get free meals, free work clothes and the very best: free school places at a private school for our children. I wasn't able to achieve my dreams, but I want my daughters to be able to achieve theirs. This scholarship program is incredibly valuable for their future and makes me very happy.

This company is a good place to be. They even pay us when we don't show up for work. However, this spurs me on to work even harder. I hope I get to work here as long as I can. God bless this place, let it prosper!"

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

SHAKUNTALA DEVI (22)

"For me, my husband and our three daughters, the financial situation was very difficult. My children felt deprived because they lacked many things. Therefore, there was a lot of stress and tension at home.

Since I started working at ShaktiMat, things are much better. Before, I was very unhappy, but since I started working here, I am happy again. I don't have to worry anymore and I can give my children everything they want. I am independent, earn my own money and don't have to ask anyone for help anymore. What could be better?

Only women work here and it feels like a family. I can't imagine working anywhere else. It's a great place and I feel blessed to be here.

I like the idea of people buying mats that I have made. However, I am also always a little worried that they will be in pain when they lay on the mat. But it's for a good cause, it serves the body and relieves pain.

Thanks to the ShaktiMat scholarship program, my daughter gets to go to a new and better school. Everyone wants their children to do well. Without ShaktiMat this would not have been possible. Now my daughter will have a better education and therefore a better future. It's a wonderful initiative, my dream has come true."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

KANCHAN PATEL (20)

"I used to be afraid to do anything by myself. I was even afraid to visit my neighbors in their house next door. So I was home alone all day, getting depressed and lonely. A woman from my village brought me here and I had an interview, that's how I got this job. Now I have been here for a year and a half.

Many women here come from poor backgrounds and quite often there are difficulties at home. People get sick or have accidents. Here we can take time off as long as we want and without our salaries being cut. This is a wonderful opportunity because most companies only give 2-3 days off. Here, however, we can take time off until we have solved all the problems and it will not affect our salary at all.

If any of us are in trouble, they support the other women. We are all one unit, so each individual helps and takes over the work for the absent woman. That is exactly why ShaktiMat is like a family for me.

We also know that if we get sick or have an accident, there is access to the Emergency Medical Fund. They take very good care of us here and we feel good to work here.

I think people in all the different countries like what we do here. I would like to tell them to please keep buying and using our mats. It motivates and helps us a lot."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

SUNITA KUMARI (24)

"In 2015 I got married and moved in with my husband. He was an alcoholic and a gambling addict, not a good man. So I went back to my parents and now we are divorced.

My parents are unskilled workers and we are very poor, so I work here. My brother died when he was young and my mother was bedridden. But now she also had to start working because of poverty.

I feel much better and happier now because I earn my own money and can help my parents with it. We have all the comforts here. The factory is very clean, we get free medicine and meals. We are supported by ShaktiMat in case there is an emergency and I can take as many paid vacations as I want.

There are many women from poor families here who cannot afford good education for their children - especially for their daughters. Women are still oppressed in our society. Whenever a girl is born, parents worry about her education and the issue of marriage. ShaktiMat supports us with better education for their female employees' daughters - that's just wonderful."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

NIVEDITA BHARDWAJ (22)

"I am so happy that I get to make something that helps other people. I think it's great that what I make is used all over the world. That makes me very proud.

It also makes me happy that people from other countries care about us here in the village in India. They give us all this support - from financial support for emergencies to good salaries, medicine, good food and paid vacations. All this makes me very happy. It is so much nicer here than in other factories, and we are all immensely proud that our employer supports us so much.

First my mother came here to see the factory. She was so happy that she sent me straight here. She likes the fact that I work in a factory where only women work. We live together like a real family. I have made great friends here, I can open my heart and talk about everything. The atmosphere is very friendly. In addition, Aunt Amma Ji (manager) always has the right solution for any problem that might arise.

I have been working here for two years and it has changed my life. I am now independent and proud of myself. I have money and I can buy things that I want. My mother is also very proud of me, she tells everyone that her daughter works here. Even the people in the neighborhood now say, "Yes, this girl has turned out to be right."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

AARTI DEVI (30)

"We had financial difficulties at home. My husband is a painter and especially in the rainy season it is difficult for him to find work. I used to sew, but unfortunately did not have a regular income from it. I even worked in the fields, but even that was irregular.

Since I started working here, I have a regular income and can save some money for my own needs. I don't even have to ask my husband for permission, but can spend the money on the children and myself. Working here allows me to fulfill every need of my family. I don't have to ask anyone for anything.

I love working with these mats. It takes about 20 minutes to sew a mat and I love the fact that I have sewn so many mats at the end of the day. We know that people from other countries use these mats to reduce their stress and the acupressure points help them relieve their pain. Our hard work is helping people. That's why it makes me happy to make these mats.

I also like working here because we are not treated differently because of our caste or religion. Outside in society there may be discrimination, but here it is just us women. We work together like a family and help each other. That's why I would never want to leave this place."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

TAMANNA HASHMI (25)

"Unfortunately, I don't have children, but I wish I did. I am currently taking medication because I can't get pregnant. I would have had a doctor's appointment today, but decided to come here instead.

Here we get all the medicine we need, good food and paid vacation. I can't say too much yet because I am pretty new here. But I know that we are offered many benefits here. That is why so many women like to come here to work.

Some people say I should not work here. My mother-in-law also didn't want me to work here at first. She was worried people would say bad things about me. I came here anyway and started working. It really boosted my confidence to get out of the house and work, it changed my whole life. The money makes a lot of things possible, that makes me happy.

But what makes me most happy is that all the children are taught in an English elementary school, it is the best school in this place. It's a great opportunity that the company gives us. The villages around have a few government schools, but the quality of education is very low. The school where ShaktiMat has the children educated is a private school with very good standards. I hope that one day I will have a child who can also attend this school."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

VINITA DEVI (30)

"I got married young and moved in with my in-laws. Unfortunately, they did not treat me well. I had to get up at 3:30 in the morning, do my domestic chores, clean the house and cook. After that, I went to the field and continued working there. My husband's family humiliated me - no matter how hard I worked, it made no difference. I worried a lot because they were so unfair to me.

Since I started working for ShaktiMat, I am respected much more.
I like working here, I am in the company of women I like and I feel peace within myself. We all get along extremely well, we eat together, sit at the same table and share our thoughts - it's nice. We enjoy many benefits here and the work is pleasant. Working together unites us.

My daughter was just accepted into the ShaktiMat scholarship program. She will attend a private school from now on. I am so happy that she will be able to attend a better school. People will see that she is going to this school and will change their attitude. They will understand that she is educated. My husband's family respects me more now."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

SAROJ RAI (19)

"I didn't learn much. We had some problems in the family that my parents couldn't handle alone, so I had to leave school. Then my brother allowed me to work here and now I have been here for more than two years.

My life has changed a lot since then. I feel comfortable with the other women here and I am learning many new things. We eat from one plate, make jokes together and enjoy each other's company. I came here and realized that I am now independent and can do things on my own. I can go wherever I want to go. I feel really good about earning good money for my work and my brothers are really happy about that too.

They take very good care of us here. We have free health insurance and get medicine, we get tea in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. If we get sick, everything is taken care of. We even get paid when we are absent. Any other company would withhold the money, but here they never would - no matter how long we take off.

I forget everything when I come to work here and it feels like this is my real family. I love being here. The women from my village are very happy to see me working here. They see me working at ShaktiMat even though I haven't learned much and that's a great thing."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

SUMAN YADAV (19)

"I am 19 years old and live at home with my parents and siblings. My whole family is doing better since I started working here. We now have enough to eat. They pay us well, which is great. I am learning everything on my own and I am independent now.

When my father got sick, ShaktiMat gave us money. They give money to all families who are in medical emergencies. Even when I can't come to work, I still get paid. My parents are very happy that I found ShaktiMat. They tell everyone that their daughter is now working. That is great.

Women with different stories come to ShaktiMat and work here. I really like how good the women are to each other here. Regardless of our castes, everyone is equal here. We talk and share our stories, it feels so good.

The ShaktiMat people are very friendly people. Everything here is flawless, from the food to the work environment. Working here has changed my life."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

POONAM VISHWAKARMA (30)

"My job is to attach the tips to the mats. I manually attach the buttons first and then the discs. I can do 12 or 13 mats in a day. I've been working here for a year and a half now and I feel very good.

We enjoy all the benefits. We get excellent free food and paid vacation. Also, if I have to attend a wedding or family function, I get paid. If one of us gets sick or there is an emergency, ShaktiMat takes care of us as if they are our protectors. There is an Emergency Medical Fund that helps us in case of an emergency. This factory is definitely better than all the other factories in the area.

The women here are all from different areas and have different backgrounds. People in my village want to tell me to stay away from lower caste people, but here there is absolutely no discrimination. We come together, work and are so good to each other - it's fun. Everyone here is like family to me. I like being here more instead of being at home.

My life has changed a lot. I don't have to ask my husband for money anymore. Men now understand that we are independent. It's great that we earn our own money, we are respected more because of it."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

SUMAN BHARTI (22)

"I saw all the women coming here to work. So I also came here and talked to Aunt Amma Ji (manager). I asked her about work. She explained to me that acupressure mats are made here. Then she let me work here.

Now I have been here for two years and I like it tremendously. The factory is so clean, we get lunch and work clothes. We get paid vacation and free health insurance if we get sick. We even get paid if we have to attend some wedding. I also know that we would get money from ShaktiMat if there is an emergency situation in our lives - that's great.

It's really like a family here, we share our thoughts with each other and there are no differences - everyone is equal here. Since I started here, my confidence has grown. I am now independent and I am so proud of that - just like everyone else is proud of me.

I have inspired other women from my village to come and work here too. I brought a woman here and introduced her to Auntie Amma Ji. Since then, she has also been working here. I am very grateful that we are all together here. I feel free here.

I would like to tell all the valued customers how we work here and thank them. Thanks to them, my life has changed for the better."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

SARITA VERMA (27)

"My husband moved to Mumbai to work. He was earning well, yet our financial situation was not secure. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree, but when my husband left, I wondered what my mission in life was.

Since I started working at ShaktiMat, all the problems have been solved. People have started to see me as an independent woman doing things on my own.
Even the women in my village are excited to see me working, providing for my family and raising my child. I feel the difference in everything I do - especially in how I look. I earn my own money and can do things with it that were denied to me before.

I have become really active since I started working here. I learn a lot from the other women I work with. It's a great place to work. We get free meals, scholarships for our kids, and access to the Fund for emergency situations.
We get all the leave we need and they don't even withhold a portion of our pay for it. Plus, this place is so nice and clean, they take care of everything.

This mat is a kind of painkiller. It is used to relieve pain in the body. We are happy that we can contribute something valuable here to help people. And when people buy this mat, they do something good for us in return."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

MALA DEVI (23)

"A neighbor told me about this place so I started looking for work here. Now I have been here for 2.5 years and I am very satisfied. We arrive in the morning and perform our morning prayer together. After that, we receive sacrificial food and start the work we have been assigned to do.

It is a nice place to work, it is always very clean and well organized. I haven't seen a factory like this anywhere. Aunt Amma Ji (manager) is like a mother to us here, we are all like her daughters. Bhaiya Ji (manager) takes care of our children's education, starting from our school fees to our work clothes. Our children have all the opportunities. So the girls can go to school and do well. It's a great opportunity.

Now that my husband and I both work, our lives look much better. I have many opportunities here, from food to clothes. There is nothing I have to worry about. A lot has changed: I eat better, dress better, and enjoy life.

It feels good to make these mats for people in other countries. I hope they recognize my work here and I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay
German translations by Karina Schönberger

ANITA GOND (35)

"There are eight people in our household. My husband, my in-laws, our two daughters, two sons and me. When everyone left for work, I didn't like staying home alone. I was stuck here even though I wanted to work.

Some women from the neighborhood came here to work. They kept talking about work and what benefits they enjoyed. One day I also came here and met everyone. I was really amazed to see how the women here work together.

Nisha (manager) taught me to sew and do other work. Now I also come here to work and enjoy each other's company. Every woman here is my friend. I feel confident and independent. I earn and invest money for my children. I am so proud that I can do all this by myself.

It's nice and clean here. We get everything from medicine to midday meals. All opportunities are open to us. There is no other factory in the area where the working conditions are better than at ShaktiMat, this is the best place.

I know that I work for people in other countries. It seems like they like our work because we produce so many mats. It's a fabulous place to work - I love it."

Interviews conducted and translated by Roohi Sahay. German translations by Karina Schönberger.
Varanasi, March 2019 Photographer: Ruhani Kaur Filmmaker: Anniki Heinemann

Team Delhi 

Over time, Delhi will become an essential part of our ShaktiMat production. Unlike our Gratitude Factory in Varanasi, production in Delhi does not happen in a single factory, but is driven by a network of small, independent family farms. These farms work closely together and all play their part in producing our ShaktiMat products cooperatively.

Our team in Delhi receives a living wage as well as overtime pay and year-end bonuses. They all have health insurance (ESI) for themselves and their families.

As our business has grown, we have recognized the value of independent audits. That's why we are currently working with SMETA to obtain official certification for our socially responsible production in Delhi. We are excited to be part of the entrepreneurial family network in Delhi and to share this story with you soon.