Godavari Delta Women Lace Artisans Co-operative Society operates from the small town of Narsapur located on the west bank of river Godavari in West Godavari district. It is here that the Godavari finally meets the Bay of Bengal.
Narsapur is prominently known for lace making which brought it fame around the globe for more than 100 years. Lace making has been the primary means of livelihood for most of the poor rural and semi urban women.
Lace making was first introduced by Mrs. Macro of Scotland. With time, the lace artisans were exploited by the middle men, who were motivated only by profits and not the art of lace making. The artisans were paid low wages but the middlemen amassed large wealth by exporting overseas. There was no certainty that the woman artisan would have work round the year.
The women were only employed on demand. As long as the middlemen were sure to make profit on orders, the women artisans received work. The middlemen enjoyed monopoly in the lace business and exploited the poor artisans. The wages paid were meagre and did not even suffice sustenance.
These artistic women can provide the world with great lace products if the exploitation of middle men is removed and the consumers realise the beauty of lace products. One such effort is the Godavari Delta Women Lace Artisans Co-operative Society.
