She wove them together slowly and steadily, in neat patterns. Her niggling back pain or not-so-nimble fingers do not stall her from braiding the vibrant wires, into a sturdy wire basket. Each basket she creates represents more than just a livelihood—it’s a step toward financial stability and independence.
On seeing us enter her drawing room, she immediately gets up to welcome us and dusts the small seater in one corner of the room. We make ourselves comfortable while she gets back to braiding the wires.
Annapoorni hails from the housekeeping community. Her work till three to four years ago revolved around waste-picking, followed by housekeeping of the premises, where she was employed. However, recurring back pain made her transition to working as domestic help. Despite the physical challenges, Annapoorni dreams of uninterrupted education for her children—a dream rooted in her own experiences of early marriage and discontinued schooling.
“இன்னும் எழுதப் படிக்கத் தெரியாத வேதனையை உணர்கிறேன். அது என்னை மேலும் சுதந்திரமாக்கியிருக்கும்” (I still feel the pinch of not being able to read and write. It would have made me more independent) she says with a wistful smile.
To support her family and give her children better opportunities, Annapoorni began selling wire baskets. With the hope that the additional income will help create a buffer for their education. Her son is in 1st PUC, aspiring to study computers, while her daughter is in the 8th grade.
As her daughter clears up the kitchenette adjoining the living room, Annapoorni casually mentions that she wants her children to earn degrees and land a well-paying job. She aspires for them to lead a life of dignity.
“My son has been asking for a YouTube subscription to help with his studies. It’s an extra ₹200 a month, but I plan to save more through basket weaving to make it happen,” Annapoorni says.
She pauses for a moment before adding, “Sometimes, our earnings barely cover the basics. It pains me when I can’t afford these small luxuries for my children’s education.”
Annapoorni has been working as a house help in the neighbourhood for the past five years, for a meagre salary of 4000 rs. “I cannot take up more work because of my back pain. My husband does not want me to venture out and worsen my health. He wants me to give priority to family.”, says Annapoorni. Velu, Annapoorni’s husband, has been engaged in basic carpentry work ever since their marriage 18 years ago. His daily earnings would sum upto an average of 20000 – 25000 Rs in a month. For Velu, many days in a month can go without work, slumping the monthly earnings considerably.
The COVID-19 pandemic was an eye-opener for Annapoorni. It made her realise that domestic work wasn’t necessarily a sustainable livelihood. When Udhyam approached her six months ago with a plan to expand her occasional wire basket business into a more profitable venture, she didn’t hesitate.
“Udhyam supported us in all the avenues, from sourcing better materials, exploring new designs, to connecting with markets. Over these months, I’ve started seeing small but steady increases in my profit margins,” she shares with pride.
Annapoorni learned basket weaving as a child from her mother, a skill that has now become her lifeline. Displaying one of her creations, she explains how a single basket takes several days to complete.
She steadies herself against the living room wall and resumes weaving. The vibrant wires strike a contrast against the pastel walls, much like a dash of rainbow against grey clouds!
As we bid goodbye, we see Annapoorni join a group of women queuing at the hand pump for their weekly supply of Cauvery water. The chatter of women and clanging buckets echo through the street—a reminder of the community’s ongoing struggle to balance basic needs with aspirations for a better life.
Watching her steady her bucket, just as she steadfastly weaves her baskets, we’re struck by her resilience. Annapoorni isn’t just weaving wires; she’s weaving a new path, one that holds the promise of a brighter future for her family.
As Annapoorni steps into this new chapter, her story is just the beginning of a journey for her and others from the informal waste-picking community, as part of the Saamuhika Shakti initiative—a collective effort to create pathways toward dignity, stability, and hope.
