Coimbatore : Even as the Coimbatore Forest Department has planned to create a system of economical and efficient removal of Lantana Camara by selling it for fuel wood after processing, people of the Irula tribe of the hamlets of Singampathy at Siruvani, have been creating furniture using the invasive plant for the past three years.
Coimbatore : Even as the Coimbatore Forest Department has planned to create a system of economical and efficient removal of Lantana Camara by selling it for fuel wood after processing, people of the Irula tribe of the hamlets of Singampathy at Siruvani, have been creating furniture using the invasive plant for the past three years.
Jointly funded by the Centre for Sustainable Future of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore and Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), India, more than 100 tribals from the hamlets of Singampathy, Kalkothipathi and Sarkarporathy in Siruvani have been trained in Lantana furniture-making.
Of the 100 tribals, 30 of them have done a systematic course certified by the Central Government. They were trained by professionals from Bengaluru and offered certificates on Tuesday by the organisers for successfully completing the three-month course.
“The idea is to bring about an economic development to these people who live deep inside the jungle. We started the project three years ago and continuous attempts were made to give it a systematic approach. Later, it was funded through GSDP, which helped regularise things,” said Maya Mahajan, Associate Professor, Centre for Sustainable Future of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Coordinator of the project.
A centre was created in the Singampathi hamlet to train the people and resource persons who were invited to the hamlet to teach them the process. “They were trained in all the processes involved, including finding the right plant for the right product, cutting and collection of lantana, bending, boiling, processing and creating a desired product,” she added.
Products including entire furniture sets, sofa sets, tables, chairs, stands, shelves and small crafts are being made by the tribals using Lantana.
“The participants are also trained in marketing to equip them to sell the products and be benefited through it. The cost of the products is very less compared to bamboo products. An entire furniture set could cost only up to Rs.14,000, whereas a bamboo or timber product would be double the price,” said Maya Mahajan.
The team has decided to sell the product through exclusive outlets in Kovai Kuttralam, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Isha Yoga Centre. They also take the participants along with the products for exhibitions around the country. “Since we have given them all the necessary training that is required, they will now be on their own in the business, which would help in the development of their community,” opined Maya Mahajan.
Foresters are also overjoyed at the initiative since it not only helps the tribal community but also helps in the eradication of Lantana Camara, a headache invasive plant that is eating up the habitat. The tribals on the other hand are grateful for the opportunity.
“We would usually go for meagre daily labour jobs in towns but when such opportunities are provided within our hamlet, it is a double joy,” said R Chinnathayi from Singamapathi. The certified participants are now capable of training others who are interested in joining the business.