Now, 'dupattas' to drape noble cause

How could one forget Bollywood actor Kajol running through a splendid mustard field in full bloom, with her spotless white dupatta flowing carelessly in the blockbuster film Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.

However, the dupatta has come a long way, from being every Indian woman’s favourite piece of garment. Now, dupattas are set to be a part of a noble socio-economic cause.

Wanitha Ashok, in association with a voluntary organisation, Prakruthi,  is set to turn the dupattas to help economically backward women earn their livelihood and help save the environment from the menace of plastic bags. The National Council of Women’s Welfare is lending its help to Ashok, an environment activist and recycled craft designer, in her endeavour.
Ashok’s idea is to turn old and discarded dupattas into cloth bags, to replace plastic carry bags.

“The idea is to save the environment from the menace of harmful plastic bags. I want people to use bags made from dupattas, instead of plastic carry bags while shopping. I want all women of Bangalore to donate their unused dupattas for the cause,” said Ashok, also an aerobic instructor.

From June 25 to July 25, as a part of the drive, Ashok is planning to install drop boxes for dupattas across different parts of the city.
Some of the confirmed drop boxes  points chosen for the campaign includes, Moving Body, Malleswaram; LRDA Studio, Jayanagar; Vo2 Max, JP Nagar; Sunshine Boutique, Indiranagar; Roots Montessori, JP Nagar; The Prakruthi Stall, ITPL; and Mathruchaya Women’s Welfare Centre, Koramangala. Starting from Jayanagar, where Ashok resides, the drop boxes will be installed in malls and popular hangouts.

Ashok, who has already started the project, is working with 40 women from the Siddapura slum. The women are stitching bags from dupattas, donated by friends and acquaintances.

Once sizeable numbers of dupattas are turned into bags, Ashok is planning to sell them at popular shopping outlets in the city.
“We’re aiming to make 10,000 bags in the first phase and release it in the market,” informed Ashok. “I will keep the price of the bags reasonable.”

Profit from the sales will go to the women of the slum working in the project. The campaign aims at complete ban on plastic bags.