The Charaka Mahila Vividdodesha Kaigarika Sahakari Sangha was conceptualised in 1994, spearheaded by theatre activist and writer Prasanna, inspired by Gandhi's charkha movement. The aim was to establish an alternative model of rural economic self-sufficiency that challenged the assumption that handloom textiles must remain high-end boutique luxuries and rural communities — particularly women — must migrate to urban industrial hubs to earn a living.