Jute’s appeal as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic carry bags has helped it emerge as one of the success stories of Indian industry. As seen at the Tiruchi Jute Fair being organised by South India Jute Association (SIJA), the fibre has become a generator of jobs, especially among low-income women.
The fair, being organised for the first time in the city by SIJA, a representative body of jute enterprises in southern India, and the National Jute Board, got underway on Thursday. N. Manimekalai, Head, Department of Women’s Studies, Bharathidasan University, inaugurated the fair which has brought together 22 exhibitors from places such as Erode, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Chennai. Prices of the goods - from hair accessories to handbags, besides footwear and home décor items – range from Rs. 20 to Rs. 700.
Need to educate
“More than selling jute products, we are keen to educate people about the fibre, and its uses. Fairs like this will give a chance to local entrepreneurs to venture into the jute sector also,” R.P. Srinivasan, Founder-Secretary, SIJA, told The Hindu . “We have held 8 fairs to popularise jute in the South, and this is our first in Tiruchi. Though the fabric is mostly from Kolkata, the design and finish of southern Indian jute products is a class apart,” he added.
For M. Mary Charles of Roja Self-Help Group from Coimbatore, jute has been a saviour for women like her and her 12 member team. “We are all from poor families, and we thought of taking up jute bag production to avoid a life of debt,” said Ms. Mary. “Nine members of our team are involved in the bag-making. Three of us take care of marketing. A woman tailor can easily earn up to Rs. 1,500 per day by stitching these bags. Our four machines can produce up to 200 bags in a day, which we sell at both retail and wholesale rates.”
The need to recycle and reuse daily use items has created a market buzz for jute bags, said Sujatha Nachiappan, of Diamond Jute Decors, from Tirupur. “Whether we are out to buy milk or go to the temple, these days, we prefer to use a jute rather than plastic bag,” said Ms. Sujatha, who markets the products that her mother designs and produces at their production facility in Kovilpatti.
“Participating in fairs is a challenge sometimes, because we don’t like to repeat our designs, so we have brought a new range of items just for Tiruchi,” said Ms. Sujatha. The stall has a huge variety of jute handbags, mobile phone purses and wallets suitable for students and working women, in addition to corporate gifts and baggage. Stalls selling jewellery, stationery, shoes and wall hangings, were also doing brisk business yesterday.
The fair being held at the SRT Hall at Thillai Nagar will be open from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. until August 21.
