KUNCHANKUTTY
AND LAKSHMI: MAKING COCONUT SHELL ARTIFACTS
 |
| Kunchankutty
& Lakshmi, Kalpathy, Palakkad Mob: 9947646884 |
| |
Till about 18
years ago, Kunchankutty and
his wife Lakshmi of Kalpathy,
Palakkad were farmers who knew
nothing about coconut shell carvings.
But following a court dispute about the land where they
farmed, they had
to forgo agricultural practice. Eking out
a living was their primal concern then.
So, it was a
godsend
when a relative enquired whether they could make a toy monkey using
coconut
shell. At that time they did not know
that it will turn out to be their livelihood and joy for the rest of
their
lives. Considering the financial condition they were in, Kunchankutty
jumped at
the opportunity. And made the toy monkey
in his maiden attempt.
After some more
fine
tuning, he and his wife decided to make this into their profession
henceforth.
Lakshmi being a
member
of Kudumbasree, the poverty eradication programme of the Government,
had source
of loan and marketing in that organisation.
In fact, Kudumbasree, when they became aware of the
couple’s new
venture, lent a helping had by sanctioning Rs.60000 as loan for buying
machinery
and raw materials. Further, they let the
couple participate in melas being arranged by the organisation in other
districts and other States to sell their products.
While their
marketing
has all along been under the aegis of Kudumbasree, they are now
planning to sell
the products directly to the buyers. The
most notable articles that they produce include key chain and earrings,
cutlery
items and animals etc.
Anagha R Manoj
(text), The Better India, June 16,
2022
