Mats made of water hyacinth for Yoga day celebrations

To encourage indigenous artisans, unique yoga mats made with water hyacinth, an aquatic weed, have been procured by the government for International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21, AYUSH minister Shripad Yesso Naik said.

With the government last year facing flak for procuring some 'Made in China' mats for the maiden IYD celebrations, Naik had last week requested state governments "to encourage use of locally-made yoga mats and apparels, preferably with the locally-available raw material to provide employment opportunities to local artisans and small entrepreneurs."

Naik said 500 water hyacinth mats have been purchased from North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC), which is the marketing channel for North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi).

4,500 artisans from Assam and Manipur have been trained by NEDFi over a period of six years in the art of making products from water hyacinth. This was part of the efforts to help craftsmen from the region to replace traditional raw materials like cane and bamboo used for making furniture and other accessories.

"Irregular supply of cane and high cost of procurement of bamboo have been a major cause of concern for the artisans associated with the Cane and Bamboo Craft.

"... hence, effort was made to identify alternative low cost raw materials where the existing skill of the craftsperson can be used to make products suitable for the contemporary market," a statement issued by NEDFi said.

Water hyacinth grows abundantly in the region and is a weed that destroys local eco-system by blocking sunlight, preventing oxygen exchange by other aquatic plants and affecting pisciculture. In fact, during the British rule, Assam Water Hyacinth Act, 1926 was enacted to restrict the growth of the weed. The act is still in force.

High quality bags and baskets made of water hyacinth in Thailand had originally served as an inspiration for this project, according to NEDFi.

With the help of Ministry of Development of North East Region and NEDFi, as many as 4,500 artisans were trained in the craft of designing and weaving articles from this aquatic weed. Technological assistance was also sought from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

Subsequently, Thailand's Department of Industrial Promotion sent their own trainers. "This was the biggest boost, it facilitated NEDFi the access to a proven technology and process suited for the rural artisans," according to NEDFi.

According to NEDFi Deputy General Manager Ashim Dass, "80 per cent of the cost of a product sold goes to our weavers and artisans."

The ministry of AYUSH has also procured another 500 khadi mats from Khadi Village and Industrial Commission.

"We have dispatched 2,500 yoga mats so far. We have also made available yoga dress designed by NID at the behest of AYUSH Ministry, which are now available at our outlets. Our spinners and weavers are the direct beneficiaries of this enterprise and 60 per cent of profit earned goes directly to them," D S Bhati, Assistant Director of KVIC, said.