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Putting eco-friendliness in a nutshell
Thanal hopes to find a global market for the coconut-shell curios.
IT WAS all about self-reliance, confidence and eco-friendliness, `in a nutshell', quite literally.
When 18 women from various self-help groups from the panchayats of Vizhinjam and Venganoor got together for a 14-day workshop on zero-waste management and on the manufacture of domestic utensils using coconut shells, the result came as an inspiration for `Thanal', the NGO that initiated the venture.
For two weeks, the women, who had no prior training in making things out of coconut shells, braved it out under the expert and watchful guidance of the master artisan, Murali, from the Coir Board, a highly rated maker of curios from coconut shells.
For the first few days, bruised fingers and cracked coconut shells were the order of the day at the private hotel in Kovalam where the workshop had been organised. However, slowly but steadily, the women caught on the tricks of the trade.
The results of the two weeks toil were put up for all to see, at the venue of the workshop. The participants watched with pride as visitors lined up to inspect and admire the curios that the women had fashioned.
There were cups of varying sizes, pen-holders and an assortment of spoons, containers, pendants, bangles... The variety was as captivating as the craftsmanship.
According to Jayakumar, Thanal activist, the aim would be now to negotiate with hotels, both here and abroad, as well as other interested persons to market products made by these women from the self-help groups.
Says Mr. Jayakumar, "When I was in Switzerland, I was served ice-cream in a cup made from coconut shell. I brought one over as a memento. It sort of struck me that we, in the land of the coconuts, throw the shells away instead of using them. Now, things look set to change.''
Thanal, with support from the Department of Tourism, plans to set up stalls at Kovalam to sell the products made at the two-week workshop.
By Mahadevan G.
Photo: S. Mahinsha
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