Geeta Lama

I am a batik artisan from Kachchh, Gujarat. Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing and block printing that has been practised by six generations of my family. Initially, I learnt the craft on the job while helping out with the family business. It was only a little later in life that I expanded my understanding of batik production—through school and social media.

“We’ve been hit by a double whammy this time. The harsh weather and lack of fertilisers have broken the backs of us farmers and gardeners,” said Tulsi Ram Sharma, an apple farmer from Theog, Himachal Pradesh. A severe fertiliser shortage has disrupted the livelihoods of several farmers in Himachal Pradesh, where vegetables and apples are primarily cultivated. This issue is linked to the deterioration of India’s relationship with China and has been exacerbated by the ongoing Russo-Ukranian conflict.