Eighty women who participated in a YellowBag Foundation-organized Cloth Bag-making workshop were honoured at Meenambalpuram on Tuesday.
“As Tamil Nadu is heading towards eradicating use-and-throw plastic bags, this is an opportunity for women from families with low income to make cloth bags as a way to earn,” said R.M.J. Ramajeyam, founder of YellowBag Foundation.
This month, a total of 80 people were trained in two batches for 15 days. They were taught how to sew a variety of cloth bags from 'gada' cloth, including the basic cloth bag, tote, basket box, pouch, backpack, and messenger bag. Mr. Ramajeyam stated that they are now qualified to start their own cloth-bag manufacturing businesses or work in our manufacturing centres.
The participants were largely housewives from Meenambalpuram and the surrounding areas. Madura Microfinance and Credit Access Foundation supported the training.
During a feedback session, one of the trainees, Sabitha Banu, said, “I have never touched a sewing machine until I enrolled for the training. But now I am confident of stitching a bag.” Many echoed similar views.
M. Chitra, a homemaker hailing from a family of weavers, said, “Since our business dwindled, I remained at home without work. Now, I want to buy my own sewing machine and learn how to stitch blouses and churidar. I want to teach my daughter too.”
“Teaching them a trade school is fulfllling as I am able to make many more women like me to be financially independent.” M. Chellammal, the trainer, who learnt stitching at YellowBag Foundation in 2018, said.
A package with measuring tape, scissors, threads, five-metre cloth, needles pack, and other stitching needs was given to the participants along with the certificate to motivate them.
YellowBag Foundation was founded in 2014 by a group of socially aware individuals with the goal of transforming women and children in Madurai's most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, which have high crime and poor income levels. They teach women and give them with jobs making cotton cloth bags in a decentralised production environment.
