Kudumbashree - Success Story of Eco craft and Handicraft unit

Making Handicrafts and earning livelihood: Success Story of Eco craft and Handicraft unit

Kerala state, especially Malappuram district is famous for its eco-friendly handicraft practices. Most of the handicrafts in the state are made from naturally available materials and skilled artisans play an important role in its creation. They are given special training in making the artefacts which appear to have a life of their own. The state has an edge as far as eco-friendly handicrafts are concerned because it has a tradition of making beautiful handicrafts with articles like bamboo, palm leaves, seashells, wood, coconut shells, clay, cloth, metals, stone and so on.

Malappuram handicrafts is an art of creating crafts by hand and is named natural handicrafts. Kudumbashree micro enterprise units works in different sectors including handicrafts’ development. It differs from other handicraft centers because there is no shop to sell these products. This unit is named as ‘Eco craft and handicraft unit’, Kuzhimanna. Smt. Shahina, a common woman, started this unit and currently working this unit in her house itself. This production unit is approved by Kudumbashree Mission under Government of Kerala. This is located in Kuzhimanna village at Malappuram district. Smt. Sahina sarted this handicraft development work at home during June 2007. 
      

While schooling, she had started making handicrafts. After schooling, she had continued this work as passion. She had participated in Nilambur mela during 2007 for sales and exhibition of handicraft products. This was the turning point in her life to take this as a serious profession. On 2012, it is registered as micro enterprise unit under Kudumbashree Mission, Government of Kerala.

 The raw materials used for the development of eco- friendly handicrafts include Oasis flower, solar wood, cane, bamboo, arecanut leaf, arecanut fibre, chengana grass etc. Eco craft was featured in many leading newspapers and magazines and got awards for making ecofriendly products. Passion to implement new ideas is the reason for her success. She had joined in Kudumbashree neighbourhood group and availed Rs.25000 loan from CDS during 2014-17 and Rs. 50000 as interest subsidy and another loan for Rs.50000. This was the capital investment of her unit. This is the turning point to develop her business and carrier.

Adithya, a seventh standard student, is a neighbor of her and she has shown interested in her handicraft activity and support her while developing new ideas. Her mother is very supportive in her creative activities and family including husband and son is very supportive as well. She bought a two wheeler and a four wheeler vehicle through the business profit. Her future plan is to raise the fund for Adithya because Adithya and her family has no owned residence house. And to hire shop at Malappuram town as part of business development.

YouTube link to a news story published about Eco Craft in a regional TV Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IgakIueVRI