COIR PROJECT FOR POOR RURAL WOMEN
(From Empowerment To Liberation)

It was the concern about the poor and deplorable condition of the people engaged in the Spinning of Coir yarn, especially the women folk that made Aspinwall and its overseas business partner Primeur Ltd. UK to embark upon a novel scheme of empowerment of the women folk at Chethi through a Savings and Credit Scheme called “Self - Help Group” (SHG).

Chethi is a nondiscript tiny palm fringed hamlet in the suburbs of Alleppey in South Kerala in India.
Coir was the traditional and chief trade of Alleppey District - a backward district - known as the Venice of the East, which has natural canals, backwaters and lagoons and also some of the most literate talented Craftsmen for making the best quality Coir Products. But caught in the web of Poverty, these talent lay unexplored and men tired of all social and economic condition had started to resign to their fate with disillusionment

It was at this point of time, in 1998, Aspinwall / Primeur efforts got focused in Chethi area and 60 families from amongst the poorest of the poor were selected for this. The idea was to provide employment and ensure social upliftment with a difference. It was made sure that each of the selected family had 3 adult women securing a job under the scheme for their livelihood. That was the beginning of an ambitious project to end starvation and drudgery for these 180 women work force in Chethi.

WHAT WAS THE PROGRAME AND HOW IT WAS ACHIEVED
Production of coir products undergoes a variety of processes before achieving the final product. In these processing chain, Coir Yarn Spinning was the most arduous less remunerative and unhygienic job. The average daily wage for a women worker was around 30 pence. This was hardly enough for her and the family to make both ends meet.

In Chethi, these 180 women work force were divided to form 9 Self Help Groups ( S H Gs). Aspinwall / Primeur effort provided them with basic raw material “ Coir Fibre” for spinning Coir yarn. Starting with Hand-Spinning which earned them 30 pence per head per day, the facilitators provided them with Hand Spinning Raats, which not only improved productivity, but also enhanced their earnings. In order to make it a self sustaining one, the 180 beneficiaries were made to contribute 25% of their savings which again along with contributions from Aspinwall / Primeur saw the Project in goodstead - paving the way for better productivity / wages.

The next step was to replace the Hand Spinning Raats with Mechanical Raats. Raats are devices used for spinning Coir Yarn. Mechanisation has enabled them to give constant twist and taken away most of the drudgery and monotony of the operation. It again ensured a good quality Coir Yarn and better productivity and return for the beneficiaries. Uninterupted production of coir yarn under the scheme and its full purchase by Aspinwll at realistic prices for use in manufacturing Coir Mats for export to overseas market boosted the morale and spirits of these 180 women workers. They produced and ploughed back a portion of their savings into S H G which has made this not only a “Movement” but also set a model for others in self employment, sustenance and growth.

PROGRESS
If in 1998, they had started with hand-spinning and subsequently with 60 hand-driven raats, now the nine S H Gs have 90 motorised raats which have helped achieving :
Poverty alleviation in that area
Better Income - earning per day increased from 30 pence to one Pound
Production of better quality Yarn through mechanized raats
Hygenic and clean production environment - minimizing pollution.
No involvement of child labour
Constructive and healthy competition
Better Social interation and co-existence
Collective bargaining power
Above all, permanent employment and self substance

MAINTENANCE AND MONITORING
1) Aspinwall ensured that the system functioned effectively / efficiently. It set up an administrative Office at Chethi with an experienced Project Officer and 3 Animators who provide all the help required for the 180 women and also co-ordinate the work.

2) Periodical training was provided to these 180 women work force to improve quality and also to update in modern techniques.

3) Regular monthly meetings of each S H Gs were held for discussing matters of common interest / product improvement.

4) Proper records and also Bank accounts were maintained for all the transactions to ensure smooth running of the project transparently.

APPRECIATION
The Chethi Coir Project received Kudos from State/Central Governments including Ministers who described it as a ‘novel scheme’ on Poverty alleviation and self-sustance. On the same model Kerala Government is now planning to organize such S H Gs in other rural areas of the State.

FUTURE PLANS
Coir Project has plans to set up a fairly big Retting Tank and Effluent Treatment Plant for retting of coconut husks. This apart, it has also plans to set up Mechanical Defibering Units for fibre extraction.

CONCLUSION
In a span of five years, the Coir Project of Aspinwall / Primeur has been able to substantially raise the Living standards as well as Social standings of the people involved in Chethi Project.

This group of women have been striving hard to ensure that their pursuit is not in vain when the industry elsewhere is in shambles. The smiles writ on them and their childrens’ faces give undoubtedly Aspinwall / Primeur great satisfaction which cannot be explained.

Aspinwall takes pride in being able to be a catalyst for this Social Change and helping those 60 families gain control over life and destiny.