ABSTRACT
The Thar is one of the most heavily populated desert areas in the world where the livelihood of the people mainly revolves around agriculture and animal husbandry. Agriculture is not a dependable proposition in this area because after the rainy season, at least one third of crops fail. Owing to climate change, the rainfall in this area has been unpredictable, too. Uttar Rajasthan Cooperative Milk Union Limited (URMUL), a registered, not-for-profit local organization started to facilitate the income of the communities situated in this area by diversifying their sources of income. Considering the locally available raw materials, human skills and markets, URMUL decided to focus on promoting the dyeing and block printing unit to aim at empowering women and making them independent. This research studies the set-up of a small natural dyeing plant in a village in Western Rajasthan (Runiya Barawas) which will provide a steady source of income and employment to the locals (Ojha, 2014). Our analysis shows that setting up of the dyeing plant is very much feasible and breakeven is expected to reach within 7 month. This unit will make optimal utilization of water and other locally available raw materials of organic origin. It can 100also help local women to be independent, thus, to be able to support their family through their own income.
