wayanand bamboo cluster

SRISHTI SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN FST 101

WRITTEN BY : KHUSHBOO CHORDIA 
 Wyanand Bamboo cluster

Overview: we started off from Bangalore 15th at night by Kallada travels. By 6:00 am we reached Kalpetta on 16^th from where we took local bus to reach M.S Swaminanthan Research Centre. We were allotted domentory were we all got chances to live together. after spending the time which other we  were able to understand each other more and had lots of fun.  i will forget this trip in my life . i learnt many things which were very interesting and knowledAfter having our breakfast we started our journey. On 16th we went to Uravu.

ABOUT URAVU:

In Kerala, Uravu is in Wayanand and it is one of the  greenest place with natural beauty . kerela is gods own country . so we can imagine how attractive is. In the way we saw many coconut trees . I loved the food they used to provide ous for example rasam , put , idli , coconut chatni etc . which we does not found in other places .

 We travelled to the main training centre of uravu in a jeep. Surendranath, the president of the organisation, gave us an introduction about Uravu, a non-profit organisation that begin in 1996. Their main aim was to improve the socio-economic status of women and train them according to the requirements. Uravu got its funds through government funds and bank loans. Other then agriculture working with bamboo provides them work throughout the year. Their work is segregated according to the skills of different workers. Uravu work on bamboo to produce main products because bamboo has lots of properties for example

1) Bamboo grows extremely fast.

2) Bamboo shoots are used for food.

3) Bamboo handicrafts provide maximum values.

4) The main reason was the availability of bamboo was very high.

The artisans in uravu making variety of objects such as lanterns, cake box, trays, candle holders, jewellery etc. Even bamboos are treated with chemicals so that they don’t get affected by bacteria.

They also make pens with flexi riffles for Rs. 50 and parker riffles are more expensive made up of bamboo and coconut

ON 17^TH October, we left at around 10:00 and went to one of the units or SHG (self help groups) that works with uravu.

Under the main organisation: there is a federation called kalpetta bamboo federation. Under them there are 18 self groups out of which 6 of them work with uravu in marketing, skill building etc. These are scattered around wayanand.  All these groups are located nearby places where artisans live so that it will be easy for them to go there and work. And this type of work promoted tribal people to earn their basic income.

  

On 18^th October we visited tourist spots, edakkal cave, the tribal museum and sujhipa waterfall. s                         

The cave has its own beauty. The name” Edakkal” literally means “a stone in between” .  The cave paintings depict the tribal chiefs, animals, the tribal queen etc. Then after seeing museum which was full of old ornaments, tools, different statues etc. And then we went to sujhipa waterfall where we could understand about biodiversities.

On 19^th October we visited uravu . There we were given chance to work on bamboo. They gave ous 3 choices: handicraft, weaving and sculpture. I chose handicraft because I was willing to that. In staring it was like what to make but I thought of shoe rack made up of bamboo. It was simple in design and interesting to make. I decided to make shoe rack because I needed that as soon as possible. When I made that aditi and narendra liked that and also explain the drawbacks of the product. Working with bamboo was new experience for me after working with bamboo in srishti. I learnt techniques through which craftsman works their and one of them helped me a lot to make the design possible.

                              

NGO model:  Non government organization (NGOs) have been working for the betterment of the rural poor

The NGO’s works on the issues through which rural people get affected.

 Services to the tribal of the district in the areas of health, education, community development, woman empowerment, gender discrimination.

The way NGO work with SHG:  the clusters of Uravu are also linked with NGO and SHG because all aim is to improve the status of women in the society through entrepreneurship, and because of this there is there is larger presence of women. Where in uravu bamboo has become the source of income and provides them food security.

 SHGs consist of cluster of individuals in villages which come together to start some business activities at micro level in order to generate income for their livelihood. Even uravu has many cluster which work in various ways to give the outcome .  These SHGs has low technology and lack of advanced technology. And these SHGs have been promoted by NGO. For raising SHGs initial level in some cases by funds available from NGOs as seed money for issuing small emergency loans either for production purposes. So that they can bond a link with bank subsequently with the help of (NGO). Through this they get the financial help can make their way easier. Train them for 1 year to with appropriate technologies.

NATURAL RESOURCES : 

 usage of natural resources is in limited amount according to the use to make a product. Resources are not wasted and used in appropriate proportion. And for that they train them for 1 year with appropriate technologies. Uravu has many outlets where they give orders for products they have to supply in the market.

Uravu has 4 clusters:

1) Nirvana cluster: -marketing is done by Uravu.

                              - It started 8 years back.

                              -artisans stay closer to the cluster.

                              - All have done life insurance and educated till 10^th standard

2) Uravu cluster:  -there were 18 people in the starting working their but now it reduced to 12 people.

                              -people reduced because of dust allergies, money was not enough to run their houses

3) Sneha cluster: -it started 4 years ago

                            -they also make products from bamboo.

                             -even if one unit doesn’t need the waste, uravu takes it to another unit where it can be used.

4) Soubhagya: -they also get bamboo from uravu.

-they have insurance from panchayat.

Issues: all these working raised lots of issues about tribal people.

     ABOUT ENVIORNMENT : when I went to sujhipa waterfall I understood how the water is being   dirty because of people making  a mess by throwing trash in the water, toilets or spill something down a drain that should not be spilled there . These all are happening because of lack of attention which needs to be highlighted.

SOLUTION : 1) there should be survey on public natural resources .

                     2) in water resource area  it is particularly important to maintain our septic system properly  , for that public toilets should be constructed to get rid of dysentery, and other diseases may be spread by bacteria, viruses, and parasites in wastewater. These disease-causing organisms, called pathogens, may make water unsafe for recreation.

ABOUT PUBLICITY OF THEIR PRODUCT:

SOLUTION 1) they can check out the local college's newspaper and alumni magazine localized online websites and blogs to give publicity to the brand and types of product.

2) We're going to make it more easier for people in rural areas looking for work to find out about companies that are hiring them . for example fab india.

3) WOMEN ARE DEPENDENT ON OTHER BUSINUSS FOR THEIR INCOME:

SOLUTION:

Women who need a timely loan. Rural women in India have opened a bank exclusively for needy women who need women. It’s like after having constantly being turned down for bank loans, a group of women started saving their own money and formed the Mahila Bachhat Bank, or Women Saving Bank.

 WOMEN CAN START THEIR OWN BUSINUSS:

SOLUTION: MAHILA BANK: it is in Nasik, Andra Pradesh, and Jamnagar etc

Usually, women undergo various training to start their own business but then because they didn't have the money they couldn't start anything. So   why not start our their own bank? The members of the bank hold meetings every month and deposit money at the Mahila Bank. The money deposited in the bank is then given to needy women. So it's a great help." The women deposit their hard-earned money into the bank and can then apply for loans. Not only has the bank made them self-reliant, but some women have started their own businesses too. Started two years ago, the bank has become very popular and an increasing number of women are depositing their savings there.
They are very happy with the bank. They get three times more than what they deposit in the bank.

So far the bank has provided loans to nearly 65 women and has around one million rupees in funds. If they are in dire straits and need a timely loan, they should take a look at this. Rural women in India have opened a bank exclusively for needy women who need women. 

at the end i would like to thank my faculties narendra and aditi for being with ous and all my friends for the fun we had :)