Taking Traditional Craft Digital

Kunal Kumar, 23, from Khukhri village, Gaya, Bihar, is transforming his family’s traditional stone-carving and idol-making business through digital skills. The biggest challenge was not his craftsmanship, but limited access to customers and markets. With training from Hand in Hand India’s ‘SHE Means Business’ initiative, he began showcasing his craftsmanship on Facebook and Instagram. His followers grew from 500-600 to nearly 3,000, with one video surpassing 300,000 views. In just two months, he received over 50 customer enquiries and successfully fulfilled orders worth INR 27,000. His monthly income has risen from INR 10,000-15,000 to INR 25,000-30,000, and he aims to reach INR 50,000-60,000 within two years. Kunal continues to work with the same stone, chisels and hammers that are part of his traditional craft. What has changed is the way he reaches his customers.

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