Kudumbashree - Success Story of Alankar Cloth Bag unit

Making cloth bags and earning livelihood: Success Story of Alankar Cloth Bag unit

The hazards caused by the use of plastic and other waste products to the human beings and other living beings is enormous.  The issue is really, really huge and the challenge it possesses to the earth is unpredictable. But what if we can make income out of the waste materials? Isn’t it a great idea? A group of Kudumbashree Neighborhood Group (NHG) women from Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala is making income out of this different thought and is succeeding in their lives. They named their unit as Alankar Bags. Through this, they are not only finding their livelihood, but also is proving their social commitment towards the society. 

Evolution of Alankar Bags

There exist a Kudumbashree enterprise group located at Aamachal in Kattakada Panchayath of Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. Its Alankar Cloth Bags and Garment unit. They aimed at supporting each other by launching and launching an enterprise and launched this unit.  They launched their unit as finding a solution for the pollution and menace caused by Plastic and therefore came up with an enterprise that makes cloth bags.

They had received the support of Kattakkada CDS and Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission and their unit, which comprises of 10 members got the training in cloth bag making. And by 2007, the enterprise was started in Aamachal. The enterprise was launched with a capital investment of Rs 2.5 lakhs and out of that, Rs. 1.25 lakhs were given by Kudumbashree Mission as subsidy. Smt. Noorja Beevi is the President of the unit and Smt. Girija Sivaraman is the Secretary of the unit. The unit also includes Smt. Indira, Smt. Vimala Kumari, Smt.Aboosa Beevi, Smt.Yahiyamma, Smt.Sheeba, Smt. Beena, Smt. Krishnamma and Smt. Bindu Lekha.

The Alankar unit had provided cloth bags for the International Film Festival of Kerala, which is given away to the thousands of the delegates of the event. Other than cloth bag making the unit is also into umbrella making bed cover, soapand lotion making. They are also into garment business and are also giving training in cloth bag making.

With their committed and socially committed work, Alankar Bags had been bringing in positive changes in the society thereby raising themselves. It is sheer confidence that brought the micro entrepreneurs of Alankar Bags to greater heights. By extending opportunities to many women like the entrepreneurs of Alankar Bag, Kudumbashree Mission is giving wings to the dreams of many.