Tara Projects

Tara (Trade Alternative Reform Action) is a trust serving 25 organised community-based groups of artisans from all regions of North India. TARA members are involved in production & marketing (local & export) of handcrafts with the aim to improve the livelihood and education of the producers. They also pay producers in instances where goods have been rejected by buyers and provide loans or grants to prevent producers from having to go to money lenders at high interest rates. TARA tries to ensure wages are at least 15% and as much as 50% above normal when sales enable this. Producers work within registered cooperative societies; other groups are not registered yet but operate on just, fair lines; small family workshops also are given help.

Making cowbells is an ancient tribal craft going back thousands of years in northern India. The bells are fashioned from a mix of new and used iron, then sprinkled with glass powder and brass, covered with a pulp of clay and jute and fired for 12 hours using coal and cow dung for fuel (the "rasai" process). After cooling in water the blackened clay is removed leaving a golden patina that ages beautifully, and imparts the sonorous musical quality to the bells.