Naya

Almost 30% of workers in India are casual workers and only 10% of the workforce is in regular employment. GPM employs dozens of women in our income generating projects, providing regular employment and stable incomes to families in the slums and villages through sustainable enterprises.

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Originally set up in the Kalwa slums, Naya (which means 'New' in Hindi), is a collective of women who create paper products from recycled and virgin-souced paper. Now located in a new village industry complex in the remote tribal villages of Mokhada, Naya provides livelihood to local women, reduces waste going to landfill and protects the environment while complying with the growing demand of plastic-free bags in India.

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Naya products include:

• Paper bags 

• Note-books

• Stationary

• Envelopes

• Placemats

• Paaper coasters

• Custom made orders

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Naya was developed by London-based artist Adit Goschalk while interning with Gabriel Project Mumbai. Adit saw the need for women to have livelihoods close to their communities and families, while looking after the environment by reducing paper waste and creating artistic functional paper products.

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The women employed in the initiative are trained in recycling waste paper, creating beautiful new pieces using imagination and skill. Sales of these products support the initiative, as well as develop facilities and awareness around waste and recycling within marginalized communities. 

The Naya Paper Recycling project is a self-sustaining women-led project in under-served communities that incorporates environmental education with economic empowerment. Ongoing local and international orders are important for the sustainability and growth of the livelihood project and is an integral part of the GPM development work. It is in many ways a model social enterprise in that it combines environmental awareness, women's empowerment, and a long-term plan for self-sustainability.