JOIN USSelf-help groups are not limited to periodical savings and income-generating activities anymore. Anagha, the silk handicraft cooperative group in Murgod village of Savadatti taluk, Belagavi, has shown other possibilities of such groups by creating various artefacts from waste cocoons.
Consisting of 15 members, this group has people whose educational qualifications range from high school to degree. Many members of this group had no proper opportunity to hone their creative skills. It was then that they stumbled upon the skill-development training provided by the Sericulture Department.
The Department conducts month-long stipendiary training programmes to train women in utilising waste silk cocoons. One such training held at the Rayapur Silk Training Centre near Hubballi taught these women how to create flowers, garlands, bouquets and various other creative artefacts from waste cocoons.
Having undertaken the training, many members, for the past several years, have been churning out attractive artefacts.
All the raw materials and equipments needed for this process like silk cocoons, dyeing pigments, specially-designed scissors, gum, thread, coloured pearls and decorative pipes were purchased with an initial investment of Rs 20,000. At first, the Gokak Silk Centre provided the group around one kilo of silk cocoons at a rate of Rs 270 per kg, of which the members could use only around 654 cocoons for their work.
Some of the cocoons had silk worms inside, which deterred the members from using them for their products. After this, the members decided to purchase waste silk cocoons from the Ramanagara Silk Centre. Though the price was high (Rs 1,000 per kg), they could use around 4,000 cocoons from one kilo. This made them continue purchasing cocoons from the Ramanagara Silk Centre.
The members first cut the edges of the cocoons in a variety of eye-catchy shapes and they dye them in colours in a ‘hot and cold’ dye treatment procedure. Here, about half a tablespoon of dye powder is mixed in one glass of water. The concentrated dyeing liquid is then added to five litres of water, in which the cocoons are immersed. They change the concentration depending on the required shade. After the cocoons dry up, they make garlands and other creative objects from them. They also decorate these artefacts with pearls and other ornamental items.
The group splits into small teams of five members and shares the work like cleaning the cocoons, dyeing, cutting and fashioning them into charming decorative elements. They also rotate the work schedules every fortnight to ensure proper distribution of responsibilities.
The group created a massive garland of 22 feet for their village’s Duradhundishwara Mutt and Hanuman Temple. “After this, many institutions across the State have sent in orders for similar garlands. We also create small garlands, something that can be used for all kinds of social functions,” says Rajeshwari Hiremath, president of the group. The group functions as and when the orders come in. Large garlands cost anywhere between Rs 5,000 and 7,000.
Their expenses come up to Rs 2,000, thus making a profit of around Rs 3,000. Apart from the orders, the group also creates products and exhibits them at different fairs.
The immense creativity and talent of the group members can be witnessed in their creations such as moggina jade, attractive bouquets, miniature parrots etc.
They are even experimenting with new techniques of dyeing and latest innovation in this field in order to keep pace with the changing tastes and lifestyles. “All the members are utilising their skill and talent for something good and that is an achievement in itself. It has helped us financially and improved our status in the society, ” says Ratna Shettar, a senior member of the group.
(Translated by A Varsha Rao)