Andhra Women Turn Invasive Water Weed Into Handbags and Income
In short
- Women in Chinnapuram village were trained from October 2024 by the Krishna district administration, starting with 50.
- Artisans earn Rs 500 to Rs 700 a day, and a group earned Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a month on average, per a February 2026 report.
- Training has spread to Chevendra, Leelagudem and Tamirisa, and removal of the weed from canals has been cut back by the trade.
Why the Good News Desk likes this one
Water hyacinth forms thick mats that block Krishna district's canals, and workers had to keep removing it as it regrew. The craft programme gives the removed plant a use and gives women a paid skill. The women now run their own society, Hyaloom, to manage orders and share income.
From The Better India
For Kalpana, a woman artisan in Andhra Pradesh's Chinnapuram village, something that once clogged local waterways has become a source of income. She works with water hyacinth, an invasive plant that spreads rapidly across canals and ponds. Once removed, it was usually thrown away. Today, women like Kalpana are turning it into handbags, baskets, lampshades and other products people can use at home. "This work needs skill and dedication. Every product we make carries our effort and creativity," Kalpana told The New Indian Express . She reported earning around Rs 500 to Rs 700 a day from the...
Ask this story
For kids
Some plants grow so fast that they block rivers and canals. In one part of India, women took this weed and wove it into bags, baskets and lamps. Now they earn money and the canals are easier to keep clear. Talk about it: what is one thing you have seen that people turned into something useful?
