Dr. Hugo Maier and his wife Anne founded the SHANTHIMALAI TRUST in the rural region of Tamil Nadu in southern India, at the foot
of the Holy Mountain Arunachala.
They provided training and work in traditional handicrafts to 300 women, regardless of their religious affiliation and social caste. Village centers were established in the surrounding villages to enable women to produce locally. In creating jobs, emphasis was placed on humane working conditions, such as regulated working hours, fair wages, a friendly environment and medical care. Initially, the workshops were supported financially by the SHANTHIMALAI HANDICRAFTS TRUST, a daughter trust of Shanthimalai.
In the spring of 2001, a big step was taken towards economic independence.
Taking this risk and overcoming the difficult beginnings was encouraged by the fact that the women’s products were in demand in India and abroad, due to their high quality. With this independence, the women are learning to take more responsibility and to make and carry out decisions together.
In 2019, SHANTHIMALAI HANDICRAFTS TRUST was renamed
PREMALAYA HANDICRAFTS TRUST. As before, it is a Fair Trade society that is a member of Fair Trade Forum India,- and thus also a member of the World Fair Trade Organization. The sale of PREMALAYA HANDICRAFTS TRUST’s products also supports the MANGALAM WELFARE SOCIETY, which creates jobs for widows and other distressed women in the surrounding villages.