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For Jayambika P, from a Wayanad village in Kerala, bamboo handicraft is more than a source of income. It is a way to preserve the tribal tradition. She is so proud of her rich heritage that she wants her two children to be a part of it.

Jayambika,(46) from Meppadi village in Kerala has been making bamboo handicraft for the past 17 years. Bamboo items have been a part of her daily life. “I saw my mother make these bamboo spoons, containers, mats, etc. We used them in our house and also sold them,” she says.

This raised her interest and she learned the craft from her mother. She kept practicing and one day came across an NGO which further trained her to make more such items. Since then, she has not looked back. She gained employment with the NGO and works for them now.

“We make lovely bamboo vases, forks, spoons, pen and pencil stands, etc. These are bought by tourists and also school students,” she says. Her husband is a daily wage earner and she has two children aged 20 and 18 years. She supports her family with her income from the handicraft. “The income is not regular but we somehow manage,” she says.

Her two children are doing graduation and also help her in making these items. “When there are large orders to fulfill, my kids help me out. They like this craft but are not fully into it,” she says.

Jayambika is currently undergoing training at ASSOCHAM’s skills training program for a tribal artisan held in Wayanad. “We have learned to make many more bamboo items which can be used in daily life. Some of these are dreamcatchers, egg holders, lampshades, etc.,” she says. She is hopeful that these added skills will add more buyers to her repertoire. “With this extended range of products, we hope to get more buyers and have a regular income,” she says.

Jayambika also hopes that the government amps up its support to the tribal community. “The government should offer a subsidy to buy machinery for making this handicraft. And also deploy better marketing channels to sell our products,” she says.

And, this is the particular reason why ASSOCHAM along with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs have initiated the Tribal Entrepreneurship Development Program for up-scaling the skills, and provides market linkages and various platforms to sell their wares for tribal artisans. In the 21-days schedule, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) has initiated the program to benefit the artisans attending it.

Jayambika thinks that this will encourage her children and other tribes to continue with this handicraft industry. “When they see that it is a profitable vocation, many people would want to be a part of it. This will help our art to thrive and be preserved,” she concludes.