Blending Tradition and Sustainability for Social Impact: A Case Study of Ohrna’s Social Entrepreneurship Model

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of Ohrna, a social enterprise based in Pune, India, that integrates women’s empowerment, cultural preservation, and sustainability into a unified model of social entrepreneurship. Founded by Jhumkee Iyengar in 2018, Ohrna addresses the socio-economic marginalization of rural women by offering free, skill-based training in traditional Indian crafts such as Kantha embroidery, Ikkat weaving, and Bandhani textiles. The enterprise also emphasizes environmental sustainability through the use of biodegradable materials, upcycled packaging, and waste-minimization practices.

Using a qualitative case study approach, the research draws on primary interviews, field observations, and secondary data to examine Ohrna’s operational methodology, its triple impact i.e., social, economic, and environmentaland the strategic challenges it navigates in scaling its mission. The findings reveal how the enterprise leverages grassroots innovation, community engagement, and design thinking to empower unskilled women, revive endangered craft traditions, and create eco-conscious, marketable products.

Ohrna exemplifies core principles of social entrepreneurship, particularly in its ability to foster inclusive development in under-resourced rural contexts. The discussion situates Ohrna’s journey within broader theoretical frameworks (Dees, 1998; Zahra et al., 2009), comparing it with similar craft-based enterprises and highlighting its potential to inform policy, pedagogy, and practice. While the single-case design limits generalizability, the study offers valuable insights into the role of culturally embedded, sustainable enterprises in advancing social transformation.

This paper contributes to the growing literature on sustainable social entrepreneurship and provides a foundation for future comparative research, quantitative impact assessments, and studies on the role of digital platforms in rural enterprise development.