Watch video: 'The entire economy that revolved around the processing of coconut husks has been demolished', says trade union leader Karunakaran

Coir has traditionally been made in Kerala from the fibre of coconut husk. Women from poorer class and caste backgrounds in the coastal villages of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Koyilandy (near Kozhikode) work in this sector.  But a scarcity of fibre has affected this industry. The material is now brought across from neighbouring states.Over time, the techniques and technologies of coir production have also changed significantly, and moved from manual to mechanical.  All this has impacted the industry.

PHOTO • V. Sasikumar

Sankari. S from Arattupuzha has witnessed the changing counters of the traditional coir sector in her state

V. Sasikumar

V. Sasikumar is a 2015 PARI Fellow, and a Thiruvananthapuram-based filmmaker who focuses on rural, social and cultural issues.

Other stories by V. Sasikumar
Text Editor : Sharmila Joshi

Sharmila Joshi is former Executive Editor, People's Archive of Rural India, and a writer and occasional teacher.

Other stories by Sharmila Joshi