Over the last five years, when she has been making environment-friendly products, Arul Priya has had to scour around for buyers. Of course, there would be inquiries, some of which would even turn into orders. The orders were always within manageable limits.
Over the last one week, there has been a huge shift. Inquires about her products have been coming in thick and fast. The products include cloth bags, paper bags and cutlery made from sugarcane bagasse and birchwood, which she makes and markets under her enterprise Namma Bhoomi.
The demand has now outstripped supply by a long chalk, says Arul Priya, adding that for want of adequate personnel she has had to pass up some business opportunities.
“Two years ago, we approached a famous sweets shop in the city asking them to try out our products, they were not keen. Now, they have approached us which is an encouraging sign,” says Arul Priya, a resident of MRC Nagar.
However, with the demand for such alternatives shooting up, there is a clear void to be filled. Certain entrepreneurs have noticed it. Mridula Vikash, for example, has been making ready-made kurtis for the past 10 years has now extended her business to cloth-bags making. She started making cloth bags from the time the ban was announced.
Sumitra Srikanth, a resident of Raja Annamalaipuram, started an initiative called Help Her, which aims to make affordable cloth bags, and runs it with the support of three women self-help groups.
“We started this initiative in July, 2018. In the last six months, we sold close to 2,000 bags worth Rs.27,000. Now, we have delivered 500 bags to a departmental store in Raja Annamalaipuram and also a reputed company is likely to place orders as it wants to distribute bags to all its employees,” says Sumitra.
Vocational units meant for persons with special needs are now focussing on making cloth bags.
Arvind Institute of Vocational Excellence, a centre for persons with special needs that is based in K.K. Nagar also produces environment-friendly products such as paper bags (carrying capacity: 100gm, 1.5 kg, 1kg and 3kg); cloth bags (3kg and 4kg); arecanut plates (sizes: 12 inch, 10 inch, 8 inch and 6 inch); arecanut bowls (sizes: 6 inch and 4 inch).
Another vocational centre run by Maithree — An Association of Parents of Exceptional Children which has been making sling bags all these years and is now additionally making cloth bags for shopping. They offer bags with a carrying capacity of 2 kg and 5 kg.
Now, there is the trend of residents taking up cloth bags making as a DIY project. Some residents are keen on learning it from the experts, and just YouTube videos. For such people, Rani Ponmathi, a resident of Pallikaranai, provides cloth-bag making training.