The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Bhavani SHG wins Manimekalai Award

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Wednesday, Sep 12, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Bhavani SHG wins Manimekalai Award

Staff Reporter

The 12-women group manufactures pillows and mattresses

— Photo: M. Govarthan

A Happy lot: Members of the Sri Amman SHG engaged in pillow production.

BHAVANI: Members of the Sri Amman self-help group are elated after being chosen for the State’s Manimekalai Award for the best SHG.

The 12-women group in Kuppuchipalayam Panchayat, near here, manufactures pillows and mattresses, which have a clientele in the State Government’s Khadi Board, Co-optex and a handful of Sarvodaya sangas.

Formed on June 23, 2000, the women started by stitching mattress and pillow cloths. “For about a year and half we stitched bedding cloth and earned money for the labour alone,” says K. M. Dhanapakiyam of the SHG.

While carrying out the sartorial work, the members bought and sold pillows and mattresses to secure orders. “We wanted to graduate to producing bedding but did not have orders. To secure them, we showcased mattresses and pillows at exhibitions organised by the Erode district administration,” says Ms. Dhanapakiyam.

Increase profit

Her friend and another group member, M. Kalavathy, says the reason for wanting to start manufacturing was to increase profits.

“By buying and selling a set (a mattress and two pillows) we made only between Rs. 100 and Rs. 150, which was not enough. We wanted to increase profits, and so decided to produce it ourselves.”

First they started manufacturing pillows. "The first big order we got was from the District Supply and Marketing Society, Erode, which sells SHGs’ products,” recalls Ms. Dhanapakiyam.

The women did not stop there; they got in touch with Sarvodaya bodies in Erode for orders and that resulted in a handful of them placing orders. “We had orders from a few sangas and that kept us busy,” says Ms. Kalavathy.

Big order

Then came the big order in 2005, on the eve of Deepavali. “The Tamil Nadu Khadi Board placed order for 300 mattresses and 500 pillows, with a deadline of 15 days right before Deepavali,” says Ms. Dhanapakiyam.

They executed the order in time by employing 35 men to earn about Rs. 35,000. “That Deepavali saw each of our member earn around Rs. 3,000,” she recalls.

With the group commencing production the profit per set rose to about Rs. 250. Then came a series of orders; the latest being the one from Co-optex.

Social respect

The coming together as group and making profits has earned the women social respect as well. “We are invited by women and local bodies in the neighbourhood to solve social disputes. A few days ago we solemnised a marriage for which we provided the financial assistance,” she says.

Not only that, with the money earned the women also fund a few poor students’ education. “Last year we sponsored four students and this year we support two students at the local Government school,” says Ms. Kalavathy.

The Manimekalai Award to be presented in October in Chennai, will see the group getting Rs. 50,000 as prize for their best performance.

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