21-year-old S Priyadarshini and 57-year-old Tamilarasi Kulanthivel are among the 47 women who received their graduation certificates at a ceremony in Pollachi on Saturday. They were classmates for a month and a half and only recently learned to weave clothes on handlooms.
Appachi Eco Logic Cotton imparted handloom weaving training to women under Samarth scheme (for capacity building) of central government. The apprentices, all of them women, were from places in and around Pollachi and were new to handloom weaving.
“Many youth in traditional weaving families are moving to other jobs. They are tired and want to diversify into new areas. Over the years, we have tried to bring more weavers to our company. But, it is very difficult. So, we decided to train women from non-weaving families under the Samarth scheme,” says Mani Chinnaswamy, managing director, Appachi Eco Logic,
The women attended theory and practical classes in two batches daily for 45 days. Each trainee received a stipend of ₹13,500 directly from the government during this period. Among the nominees are women like Priyadarshini, who is a graduate, and Tamilarasi, who runs a small shop. All of them are from different backgrounds. The government has designed a basic curriculum for the programme. But, the women showed interest and Appachi conducted tapestry classes as well. “Their work is so good that there are companies that are ready to place orders now,” he says.
Candidates recently appeared an exam and they all passed with good marks. He will get the certificate on Saturday.
Appachi is looking at recruiting some of them and is also working on a project to create a Weaver Producer Company. “The company will be called Ezuchi And if it succeeds it will be revolutionary. At least half a dozen corporate companies will soon sign agreements with the manufacturer to place regular orders,” says Mr. Chinnaswamy.
Appachi has already filled candidates for three batches of training. “In some families, the bread earner had lost his job during the pandemic. Women want to learn and weave. They are very enthusiastic and some are even ready to put their looms on,” he says.