In Tamil Nadu, a local initiative is teaching women how to transform banana crop waste into baskets and other crafts. The program focuses on empowering widows and single women from marginalized communities by providing them a steady monthly income.
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00:00 Transforming banana fiber into baskets.
00:05 Women here in the village of Tirupara Kundaram in Madurai, in southern India, are taking
00:10 a material once considered waste and turning it into something they can use.
00:17 Part of the women's cooperative, Selvi started working here after her husband was imprisoned.
00:23 The job offered her and her children a lifeline.
00:26 "After the incident, I was alone at home for a few days, and relatives helped me during
00:35 that time.
00:36 However, they eventually left.
00:38 Day by day, my kids are getting older, and I didn't know what to do.
00:43 In that critical situation, I came to this job."
00:51 Selvi and the women are working at the Madurai International Centre for Art, or MICA.
00:57 They produce over 20 varieties of baskets and more than 50 other types of handicrafts.
01:03 The project aims to empower widows and single women, providing them with work which serves
01:09 as a source of monthly income for them.
01:12 The initiative was founded by Charles.
01:14 He has been leading it for almost six years.
01:17 "When I was a kid, I used to give handmade gifts to my friends.
01:21 I would gather everything from trees, including waste, and create small homes and other items.
01:27 I received positive feedback from my friends.
01:30 It was during that time that I realised nothing from nature is truly waste.
01:34 This realisation led me to consider making things out of natural materials and waste."
01:42 India is the world's largest producer of bananas, growing more than 30 million tonnes
01:46 of the fruit every year.
01:48 In Tamil Nadu, the fourth largest banana growing state, around 10 million tonnes of waste is
01:54 produced.
01:55 The banana waste for the MICA project comes from farmer Setu.
01:59 He cultivates a field of around 2,000 banana trees.
02:03 The growth cycle of the plants spans approximately one year.
02:07 Within 10 months, the trees bear fruit, and after harvesting, they are cut down to make
02:12 way for the next crops.
02:17 "Initially, we used to throw away this waste, but recently we have started using it for
02:23 multiple purposes.
02:25 In particular, we use it as a raw material to make baskets.
02:29 This has been very useful for us."
02:33 The MICA baskets and other products are mostly exported abroad to countries like Vietnam
02:38 and the USA.
02:40 The women make around 8 to 10 baskets every day.
02:43 They are sold for around 2000 rupees, just over 20 euros.
02:47 The women get around 150 rupees or 1 euro 65 per day.
02:53 It might not sound like much, but they say the income brings them comfort, and there
02:58 are also other benefits.
03:02 "Every woman working here faces harassment and trauma issues from their family.
03:09 We strive to give them hope for financial independence and the chance to support their
03:13 children.
03:14 When we come together and work as a team, all our pain seems to fade away."
03:21 The women say nothing from nature is wasted.
03:25 They believe their work benefits the environment, but more importantly, for Selvi, it also brings
03:30 her closer to her dream - to empower women, just like her, to support themselves and their
03:36 families.
03:37 [MUSIC PLAYING]