An act of social responsibility of Balasabha Members from Alappuzha

The act of social responsibility of the Balasabha members from Bharanikavu Panchayath of Alappuzha district of Kerala is becoming a model for many. The Balasabha members also became part of the Chekutty doll making campaign and made Chekutty dolls, a handmade doll made from the garments at Chendamangalam handloom weavers that were soiled and destroyed during floods.

A block level creative campaign was organised for the Balsabha members at Bharanikav Panchayath Community Hall on 25 November 2018 and 65 Balasabha members attended the training. Shri Muhammed Haneef, a volunteer from Chekutty doll making team taught the members on how to make Chekutty dolls and arranged the raw materials as well. The Balasabha members altogether made a total of 168 Chekutty dolls. The Chekutty dolls made by the Balasabha members would be returned to the team, which would labelled, boxed the same and would be sent to the customers as per the orders received online.

Handloom weavers at Chendamangalam in the Ernakulam district lost their only source of livelihood when the unprecedented floods destroyed their weaving units and washed away all their stock and raw materials. Later, two social entrepreneurs in came up with the idea of making 'Chekutty', handmade dolls out of the soiled garments at Chendamangalam, which had gained much publicity among the public. Chekutty has later become a a symbol of hope to almost 600 weavers at Chendamangalam. All the proceeds from the sales of Chekutty will go to livelihood programs envisaged by the Karimpadam Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society Limited No.191 in Chendamangalam.

“A mascot of the emerging Keralam, being rebuilt through our solidarity, resilience and beauty of hearts despite some of the stains and scars that will remain in our lives. Chekkutty has scars.Chekkutty has stains. But Chekutty represents each one of us who survived the floods,” says the Chekutty website. By volunteering for Chekutty doll making campaign, the Balasabha members had also became a part of supporting the weavers.