Tribal women weave colourful dreams

Rampachodavaram: Tribal women in the Agency area have undergone an artisans’ training programme for three months on bamboo handicrafts and palm leaf products at Chinna Bheempalli and Devipatnam mandal, and Rakota village in Rampachodavaram mandal respectively.

The training programme was organised by Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd, Hyderabad ((APHDCL) and sponsored by office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), New Delhi.

The objective of the programme is to make the youth self-reliant and provide them a source of income. The women’s hands weaved magic as they have been churning out colourful palm leaf artefacts. Palm leaf products have been silently driving the economy of Rampachodavaram. The women have mastered the craft even as their products find takers across the State.

The motto of the programme is to promote skills that will make handicrafts a sustainable venture. Officials of APHDCL opine that such skill development programmes will enable the rural men and women artisans to become self-reliant, and to compete in outside markets.

Professional training in making bamboo products has been giving a boost to the region’s economy and also generating employment for the youth. The palm fronds are first dried and then the leaves are cut to size, dyed and dried, and then fashioned into different kinds of bags.

In combinations of pink, green, blue, red, and yellow, palm leaves are being woven into baskets, pencil boxes, fruit and jewellery boxes, pen stands, rattles and coasters by women.

Women dunk a tuft of leaves into the water and lift them seconds later once they are completely coated in colour. This will be left out to dry for a few minutes and can be used to weave.

On August 10, a one-day seminar was organised on handholding support post training. Experts in design, marketing and banking procedures were invited to the seminar.

The seminar was inaugurated by Sub-Collector Ravi Pattanshetti in the presence of assistant director Krishna Murthy, handicrafts promotional officer Manoj Lanka. APHDCL, Hyderabad, general manager, I V Lakshminath, showroom manager Sirajuddin, Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium, Rajamahendravaram, bamboo designer Naveeth Krishna and designer-CSD India, S Rajesh and MPDO Sarwasti.

The artisans were introduced to various national and international designs in bamboo and APHDCL also placed orders to encourage them to take up this craft for better livelihood.