Kerala government initiates steps to revive coir industry

Across Kerala’s coastal villages, where coir has shaped lives and livelihoods for generations, thousands of workers are struggling to keep one of the state’s oldest traditional industries alive.

Now, the Kerala government is asking people to help in a simple way–buy at least one coir product for their home.

The campaign, “A Coir Product in Every Home — A Helping Hand for Coir,” will begin this Onam season with the hope that thousands of small purchases can together breathe new life into one of the state’s oldest industries.

Announcing the programme here, Home, Vigilance and Coir Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the campaign is about creating a stable market for products made by traditional workers and cooperative societies.

The state-level launch will be held on August 9 at the Coir Corporation Auditorium, and the campaign will continue for six months from August 10.

More than two lakh workers and about 743 cooperative societies depend on Kerala’s coir industry.

Many of them have struggled in recent years as changing consumer preferences, weaker demand and limited product innovation reduced sales. For families that rely on the industry, the slowdown has meant fewer workdays and lower earnings.

The government believes that encouraging every household to own at least one coir product can make a meaningful difference, Chennithala told a press conference here.

He is asking government departments, public sector organisations, local bodies and ordinary citizens to become part of the effort. Media organisations have also been requested to support the campaign and encourage wider public participation.

Alongside the public campaign, the government has announced a series of financial measures aimed at helping workers and cooperative societies.

An allocation of Rs 1 crore has been proposed to revive inactive coir spinning societies. The amount will also support workers through an Onam advance and ex gratia payment of Rs 2,000.

The minister said the government has also initiated steps to release Rs 10.95 crore to cooperative societies through revolving fund assistance and the PPSS scheme against pending payments due from Coirfed. In addition, Rs 4.56 crore has been sanctioned as working capital for 444 cooperative societies based on their performance.