Lantana lights up craftspersons' lives

Lantana, considered a nuisance, is emerging as a source of livelihood for tribal craftspersons in Javadi Hills and Palani Hills.

A mela highlighting the uses of the lantana was held recently at the Male Mahadeshwara Hills temple near Mysore. The event showcased the work of over 350 craftsmen, as part of an initiative supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard ), Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (Trifed ) and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (Atree ).

According to a press statement issued by Atree on Saturday, Dr Venkatesh Tagat, Chief General Manager of Nabard , expressed concern over the Union Environment Ministry's new directive of bamboo being considered a minor forest produce, and said this should not hinder the development of lantana-based products.

“Lantana has provided a livelihood to many families,” he said.

Mr Rasathi, a lantana craftsperson, said, “We are employed to pluck coffee beans. But it is a seasonal job. Lantana products can be created throughout the year and is an additional income for me. In a coffee plantation, I earn Rs 70 for a day, while we make Rs 800 for a lantana shelf, which takes just two days to make.”

Mr Ramesh Kannan, Field Coordinator, Atree, said, “The craftsmen derive 80 per cent of their cash income from the lantana plant. The average income of an artisan ranges from Rs 2,500-6,000 and 80 per cent of the people are women.”