Nylon wire baskets woven by visually challenged staff at Rehabilitation Centre for Blind Ladies in Tiruchi.
| Photograph Credit score: M. Moorthy
Muthamilselvi’s fingers fly as they knot strips of nylon wire into an archanai koodai’, a deep, spherical basket that’s used to hold temple choices. “I’ve woven small stands inside the basket to make self-balancing. If we make it with no deal with, it may be used to retailer onions or garlic. Most of these things can simply be tailored in accordance with our requirement,” she says.
The 48-year-old visually challenged artisan is one 15 members of the basket weaving part on the Rehabilitation Centre for Blind Ladies (RCBW) in Tiruchi. And going by the growing variety of orders per day, the workforce appears to be on a profitable streak.
The workforce has produced over 1,000 customised baskets for patrons in Coimbatore, Delhi, Bengaluru this 12 months and is anticipating to promote extra within the run-up to the festive seasons. They’re marketed with the assistance of a social media account and landline quantity.
“A consumer from Haryana needs a bulk order of 24 baskets, every with its personal distinctive color mixture. We’re getting them prepared for transport,” says Deiyvanai, as her colleague Manimekalai cuts even lengths of wire from a pink bundle.
The employee makes use of her forearm as a ruler, and cuts the strips with the assistance of a metallic snipper. Every artisan maintains their very own marking system to make sure that the colors are utilized in the precise order. “We preserve checking every row’s progress with our fingers. It’s simpler to rectify errors within the manufacturing stage. The variety of rows tells us when the basket is able to be completed,” says Manimekalai.
In every week, the group will get by way of at the least 25 kilos of vibrantly hued wire bundles. The knots are saved easy, to save lots of on wire, and time.
A checked sample basket woven by Rehabilitation Centre for Blind Ladies artisans.
| Photograph Credit score:
M. Moorthy
Stylish and eco-friendly
Established in 1975 by famous ophthalmologist and philanthropist Joseph Gnanadhickam (founding father of Joseph Eye Hospital), RCBW is dedicated to coaching visually challenged ladies within the age group of 18 to 35 years for skilled work.
The ban on single-use plastic packaging has revived curiosity within the humble koodai, due to its sturdiness. “These baskets may be reused, and likewise can carry quite a lot of items. Repairing them is straightforward, and artisans can earn a gentle revenue by promoting them,” says Vimala Moses, daughter of Dr. Gnanadhickam and undertaking director of the centre.
In addition to the basket weaving, ladies right here endure coaching in tailoring, weaving and making workplace stationery. A bakery unit is dealt with in collaboration with sighted workers members.
Priced upwards of ₹125, the handmade baskets are additionally changing into a preferred possibility for packing return items at social gatherings. “Persons are ordering small baskets to be given away after weddings and household features, this 12 months. With the competition season set to begin, individuals are searching for distinctive gifting concepts,” says Vimala.
Proceeds of the basket gross sales are remitted to RCBW, with every artisan paid a small share per piece in accordance with their work fee monthly. “It is a free residential facility, so the women’ earnings are saved in financial institution accounts for his or her private use,” says Vimala.
Path to empowerment
Relying on their experience, the ladies can weave small to medium-size baskets, together with their handles, inside three days. The work is restricted to daytime shifts.
At instances, two or extra artisans workforce as much as create heavy-duty baggage which might be in demand amongst road distributors. “This basket can maintain two huge cans of water, huge tiffin carriers and even packed garments, and may be transported simply on a two-wheeler,” says Deiyvanai holding up a humongous basket in shades of orange. Amongst its extra uncommon makes use of, she provides, is as a provider for roosters utilized in cockfighting tournaments.
Basket weaving has promoted entrepreneurship amongst visually challenged ladies, says Muthamilselvi, who initially discovered the craft on the Authorities Women’ Larger Secondary Faculty for the Blind in Puthur. “Each time I am going on depart to go to my brothers’ household in Woraiyur, I purchase wire bundles from my financial savings and weave baskets in my spare time. Promoting them to the close by shops has helped me financially. I really feel so proud when somebody buys a koodai from me,” she smiles.
Visually challenged basket weavers seen with their merchandise at Rehabilitation Centre for Blind Ladies in Tiruchi.
| Photograph Credit score:
M. Moorthy
Printed – September 20, 2024 01:51 pm IST
