Thangammal has a new idea to increase the sale of wire bags
On my field visit with Milaap’s partner GMF at Mohanur block of Namakkal district, I reached N. Pudhupatti village intended to meet Amarawathi, the leader of a JLG. Since, she had gone to a hospital in Namakkal town; I met two other enthusiastic women of her group, Revathi and Thangammal. I arrived at Thangammal’s house. She warmly greeted me offering a cot in her verandah. Soon after Revathi also joined us as she lived near to Thangammal’s house. We sat there for further discussions about their experiences microenterprises of wire bag making.
Thangammal, 37, said that she lived with her husband and four sons. Her husband is a laborer in a private construction firm. The Eldest son works a helper in a paint shop located at Namakkal town. And three younger sons study in 10th, 8th and 6th standards respectively in a government school at Valayapatti. On the other hand, Revathi, 30, lives with her husband, two daughters and a son. Her daughters study in 2nd and 1st standards at the Government Primary School of the village itself. Her son is just 3 years old. Revathi’s husband is a mason who gets contracts from Namakkal and Musiri.
Discussing about the sources of income, Revathi said, “I’ve two cows and 50 goats. The cows give 4-5 liters of milk that I sell to the neighbors at the cost of Rs. 20 per liter. Moreover, I sell around 10 goats in a year each worth Rs. 4,000-4,500.” The approximate total household income of her house is Rs. 18,000. Apart from these animals Revathi also owns half-an-acre fertile land just behind her house where she grows some vegetables for domestic use. The total household income of Thangammal is Rs. 14,000. When asked about the separate works of wire-bag enterprises, Thangammal said, “Since all of us make wire bags and are neighbors as well; we work together. Though the villages/areas we sell our bags at vary, yet we purchase the raw materials and weave the bags together.”
Actually, any two members of their JLG go to Namakkal town to purchase raw materials for all the five members once a month. The individual requirement of wire rolls is told to them and the amount is also handed to them. At an average they buy 20 wires rolls of different colors (4 for each) worth Rs. 6,000 as each roll costs Rs. 300. Revathi said, “You can say, an individual spends around Rs. 1,500 to purchase all her raw materials including cardboard, pipes, button nails, etc.”
Handing over a wire bag to me, Thangammal said that every individual made 5-7 bags a week and vended them in one or two villages. Giving details of their bags, she said, “We prepare bags in two sizes. Since the smaller size is in more demand; only 20% of woven bags are of large size.” Revathi said that the selling price of those bags were Rs. 50, for small size and Rs. 100-150 for large size. Telling about the individual incomes, Thangammal said, “It completely depends on the number of bags one has sold. However, everyone makes a profit of Rs. 2,000 in a month with this enterprise.”
With a confident smile on her face, Thangammal said, “I’m planning to increase my sale of large bags by vending them near to flour mills as the visitors there generally need a large carry bag.” I was glad to hear her productive idea and asked her to apply it as early as possible. Revathi also got impressed by her plan and suggested her a few flour mills at Valaypatti as well.
It was my pleasure to meet them, for I could feel an honest development of real entrepreneurial spirits in them. They work, plan, and share together and this togetherness is worth of appreciation. Thangammal’s idea was clear evidence that these women have not only begun to enjoy their work but to understand its strategies and importance as well. My best wishes will always be with them.
