Women get 15-day training to make cloth bags

‘They are now qualified to start their own cloth-bag making units, or work in a unit’

The participants of the training receive certificates and a kit with stitching essentials in Madurai on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: R. ASHOK

Eighty women trained during a Cloth Bag-making programme organised by YellowBag Foundation were felicitated at Meenambalpuram here 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, programme director of YellowBag Foundation.

A total of 80 participants received training for 15 days in two batches this month. They were trained to stitch a range of cloth bags such as classic cloth bag, tote, basket box, pouch, backpack and messenger bags using ‘gada’ cloth. They are now qualified to start their own cloth-bag making units, or can work in our manufacturing centres, said Mr. Ramajeyam.

The participants were mostly homemakers from in and around Meenambalpuram. The training was sponsored by Madura Microfinance and Credit Access Foundation.

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.”

M. Chellammal, the trainer, who learned stitching at YellowBag Foundation in 2018, said, “Teaching them a trade school is fulfllling as I am able to make many more women like me to be financially independent.”

Along with the certificate, a kit containing measuring tape, scissors, threads, five-metre cloth, needles pack and other stitching essentials were presented to encourage the participants.

YellowBag Foundation was started in 2014 by N S Krishnan and R G Gowri focusing to transform women and children in vulnerable communities with high crime and low-income levels in Madurai. They train women and provide them employment in a decentralised production environment to manufacture cotton cloth bags.