The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Self-help group provides a soothing touch

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 04, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Self-help group provides a soothing touch

By Vidyashree Amaresh

UDUMALPET, OCT. 3. `Thamizhan' women's self-help group (SHG) members at Madathukulam panchayat have produced a pain balm. According to the block development officer, R. Somasundaram, the balm provides relief from headache, joint and neck pains, besides cold.

The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) provides raw materials — hard and soft paraffin, menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, methyl salicylate, peppermint oil and lemon grass oil — for the ointment, christened `Suham'.

The Shanthi Charitable Trust, a non-Governmental organisation provides training for a day at Kumaralingam. The SHG members produce a minimum of 10,000 boxes (approximately of 10 grams each) a day. The production cost is Rs. 3 and it is sold at Rs. 4 to wholesale dealers. The retail cost is Rs. 6.

Good response

The response is very good. The product is marketed in the DRDA complex here. Private agents also help in marketing it. Supplies are also made through blocks.

The women earn a profit of Rs. 30,000 a month. The balm is being sold in Palani, Coimbatore, Munnar and the Nilgiris, besides at Udumalpet. Apart from pharmaceutical shops, departmental stores are marketing it. "The DRDA will supply new containers for the balm shortly to improve its look. A Rs. 5-lakh proposal has been submitted for purchase of machinery," says Mr. Somasundaram.

Says S. Thilagavathy, a group member: "Before I took up this activity I was grinding chilli powder at home. Pickle-making was yet another vocation. From this I was able to earn just Rs. 50 a day. Sometimes I had to go without it. Selling even a small quantity means going round the entire village."

Herbal hair oil

The `Avvayar' SHG is making herbal hair oil. The ingredients — `karisalankanni', curry leaves, awuri, poduthalai, karunchembai, black jeera, vettiver, vilamichaiver, cardamom, athar and coconut oil — help keep dandruff at bay, reduce hair fall and delay greying, claims the SHG.

The 12-member group produces daily about 15 litres of hair oil in quantities of 75, 150 and 250 ml.

Oil is sold for Rs. 15. Members earned a profit of Rs. 9,000 a month.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu