Palm Leaf Handicraft RAW MATERIAL Bank - Covid Relief

Palm Leaf Handicraft is a traditional craft supporting the livelihood of the coastal Lagoon fishermen for several centuries. Pulicat Lagoon is the second-largest water body in India covering an area of 759sq.km. There are around thirty-three villages on the coast of the lagoon that are depending on inland fishing and palm-leaf handicraft. During 2020 March Covid Lockdown onwards the community suffered to sustain their life due to the absence of any form of earning. The palm-leaf handicraft has huge demand around the country; however, the craftswomen are unable to produce due to a lack of revenue source to kick start the craft.

The COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent economic slowdown made us understand the issue at the grassroots level. The community needs a source to procure raw materials for handicrafts. This fundraising project is to create a sustainable resource model for handicrafts women to procure raw materials without any burden or break throughout the year. The project will bring positive change to the tree climber, and craftswomen and their families. The RAW-MATERIAL BANK would procure the tender and mature Palmyra Tree leaves from tree-climbers, process and store it in the right condition for the palm leaf craftswomen to procure any time of the year. This would enhance the life of the women and their village. This would boost our Save Pulicat to Save Chennai campaign further.

Palmyra Tree Leaves Raw Material Bank would support be executed by creating a sustainable supply chain linking the tree-climber and craftswomen. Following steps are involved in the execution:

1. Registering the tree-climbers and agreeing to their terms for regular supply of Palmyra Tree Leaf
2. Employing two craftswomen to sort, cut, dry and process the leaf for storage for the next twelve months.
3. Storing the processed raw material in the right condition at the AARDE Foundation Pulicat office.
4. The craftswomen would procure the raw material and pay for the material after a month. This would give them adequate time to sell and restart their redundant second-source of income activity without any further challenges.

COVID-19 lockdown challenges will overcome through this sustainable model. The Raw Material Bank would sustain the income from the craftswomen raw-material purchase and will bring positive change to the villages of Pulicat Lagoon.

Palm Leaf Handicraft RAW MATERIAL Bank - Covid Relief

The action would benefit more than 150 families in the Pulicat Lagoon region. The craftswomen will be empowered and kick start the redundant alternate source income for their family due to Covid Lockdown. The school dropouts would get reduced and women would get right encouraged to stand united for sustainable community life. The project will also empower women to earn their rights.