A Manipuri couple residing in Udhagamandalam is helping life convicts in the Coimbatore and Mysore Central Jails learn new skills and earn a living by helping them produce handicrafts made from recycled materials.
Peace and Anik Khapai, who have lived in the Nilgiris for over eight years, said that their handicrafts, sold under the banner “Arise”, helps around 80-90 life convicts in both the jails earn a living.
The couple, who began helping prisoners while they were working as social workers, said that the products that they manufacture, including water bottles, key-chains, coasters, plates, gift bags and other items, are all made from recycled materials. “The prisoners make the items, and we buy it from them and get an artist to apply the finishing touches, before they are put up for sale,” said Ms. Anik.
Gaining self-respect
They said that the work that the prisoners do helps them monetarily, with the money they are paid for their work being transferred to a bank account for the prisoners, and also prevents recidivism. “This work helps to build self-respect in them and they go from feeling a sense of rejection by society to wanting to actively help people around them,” added Anik.
“Of the 17 prisoners who were released from prisons and who had been working with Arise last year, most of them wanted to help their fellow prisoners or to contribute in a meaningful way to society,” said Peace Khapai.
The Khapais eventually want to start a halfway home which will help to rehabilitate people released from prison after serving their sentences. The couple, who teach part-time, devote most of their time and energy towards the project.
“We don’t have a shop, and all our products are kept at home where people come to buy them after hearing about it through their friends,” said Anik. The couple also accept used bottles, tyres and other items which can be transformed into pieces of art and handicrafts.
“Before we started this, we had no formal training in making handicrafts. But necessity is the mother of invention and we always find a way to put other people’s waste to good use,” added Anik.
Peace and Anik Khapai are exhibiting their handicrafts at the ‘Maatram’ Green Expo, which was organised by Rotary Ooty Central. More than 30 vendors are exhibiting eco-friendly products and other green initiatives at the expo.
