BPL families lap up MCC's push for cloth, jute bags

The Mysuru City Corporation’s (MCC) new initiative to encourage cloth and jute bags makers, saw 350 environment-friendly bags ready on second day, Tuesday. As many as 27 women tailors had stitched bags using 120 metres of cloth.

Following a total ban on plastic carry bags, the MCC came up with the idea to judiciously utilise the service of beneficiaries of its tailoring machine scheme.

It also ensures additional income to the beneficiaries belonging to the below poverty line (BPL) families. Each of the tailors will be supplied five metres of cloth, sufficient to stitch 20 bags.

Kanasu Foundation, a city-based organisation, has provided space at JP Nagar and also markets bags at commercial places.

The initiative is an effort to ensure complete ban on use of plastic carry bags in the city and also to ensure job opportunity for deprived families, said MCC Additional Commissioner N Raju.

According to the authorities, a tailor can earn up to Rs 500 by stitching 250 bags per day. Kanasu Foundation will market these bags and gives an incentive of Rs two per bag to the tailors.

The civic body has distributed 1,549 sewing machines to an equal number of BPL families till date. The MCC will also launch a similar programme in other parts of the city to support the BPL families and to promote cloth bags.

“A programme will be launched in Kyatamaranahalli at Srikanteshwara School campus soon,” the ADC added.

One of the beneficiaries said, “I can easily stitch more than 200 bags a day.”

Following the MCC ban on plastic carry bags, cloth and paper-made bags are in great demand among people, an officer claimed.