The Hindu Business Line : Action plan to lend tech edge to traditional skills in Kerala

THE School of Rural Development and Appropriate Technology (SORDAT) at the Cochin University of Science and Technology is to evolve an action plan to help traditional workers in the State by introducing the latest technologies and innovations to improve the quality of various traditional products.

For the welfare of traditional workers in sectors such as coir, bamboo and pottery, SORDAT has identified programmes, and as a preliminary step, it will tie up with agencies such as the Science Technology and Environment Committee (STEC) and the National Innovation Foundations (NIF) to promote newer technologies.

The Kerala Integrated Development Centre, Karunagappaly, the Kottapuram Integrated Development Society, Peermedu Development Society, Integrated Rural Technology Centre, Palakkad, have agreed to co-operate in ventures aimed at helping the economically weak traditional workers in the State.

SORDAT will act as a co-ordinating centre to bring researchers and traditional workers in the State on a common platform. Research and Development projects in bamboo, coir and pottery sectors will be introduced soon, the Director of the School, Mr V.N. Sivasankara Pillai, said.

As per the action plan, personalised machines would be devised for workers involved in the screw pine leaf industry, he said. A better technology for processing the leaf will be introduced with the help of researchers. The use of natural colours and methods to make the leaf softer will be promoted as part of the action plan.

For workers in the bamboo sector, the school plans to devise smaller machines that will help in splitting the bamboo. The agencies involved in the action plan will also chalk out methods to improve the design of bamboo products. In its initial findings, the participating agencies had felt the need to strengthen marketing of bamboo products made by traditional workers.

The agencies have plans to imbibe the best of the marketing skills to promote the bamboo industry in the State. Value additions will be made in the design of various bamboo products as part of the new strategy. The school will also draw out methods to improve the overall finish of bamboo products.

The action plan also identified that the use of natural dye should be promoted in the coir industry. The school and associated agencies decided to highlight the theme of coir as an eco-friendly natural product. The potential of coir in the area of interior design will also be marketed.

In the bronze sector, the action plan stressed the need to introduce newer technologies for value addition of products. The latest trends in design and moulding will be imparted to bronze workers in the State.

Workers in the terracotta sector will be encouraged to come up with better design for their products. The participating agencies will also help the workers in identifying clay reserves in the State as studies revealed that there was an acute shortage of raw material.

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