MM Hills, Karnataka, May 15 : 'Lantana Camara', a forest weed, has become a source of livelihood for tribal people living in the forest areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

An NGO working in the area had introduced a novel approach to encourage tribals living in the forests bordering the three states where East and Western ghats meet, to use the plentifully available weed as a source of employment and livelihood.

The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), an NGO recognised by Union Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, had launched an awareness drive on the use of Lantana and imparted training to tribal people in 2004.

It was aimed at improving their living conditions and lessen the dependence on forest produces for their livelihood.

Mr Ramesh Kannan, Field Coordinator, told UNI, "we came to know about Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation, Dehradun, founder Dr Anil Joshi promoting the use of lantana to make furniture in Uttaranchal. A few selected tribal people were taken to Dehradun to learn the art and it has become success." He said, "Today more than 400 forest dependent families in Southern States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been trained in the use of lantana in various crafts, from baskets to furniture to toys." Mr Kannan, who has earned a nick name as 'Lantana man', said initially it was being used only for making baskets as it was difficult to bend by heating unlike bamboo.

"Two trainees from France who had come for research in ATREE suggested boiling the Lantana to bend the sticks according to our needs. That worked and now you name any article of bamboo that can be done with Lantana too." He said that another important use of Lantana is it can be used for manufacturing the world famous 'Channapatna' toys.

The industry is facing acute shortage of raw material and Lantana can be a suitable raw material.

"We have put up lathe and with craftsmen of Channapatna the art of making toys, key chain and other articles were taught to the tribals," he added.

Mr Murgesh, a tribal from Hanne Hola in M M Hills, who has now become a lantana Craftsman within a span of three years, said once he was struggling to meet even the bare needs of his five-member family.

"I used to work in quarry for a lumpsum of Rs 4000 for 45 days very hard work in a year and had no other sources of income. But now I earn more than Rs 8000 per month by manufacturing two sofa sets from lantana. I am finding it difficult to meet the demand as people from t he cities are asking for more sofa sets.

"Since the forest department was not allowing cutting bamboo even making baskets from it was difficult and in these thick forest what else you can find to earn livelihood? But lantana has been of great help," he said.

About 50 Self Help Groups have come forward and formed a Federation called Divya Jyothi. "With raw material available in abundance there is more opportunity to earn more but convincing others is a problem. Others adopt wait and watch principle since they were not aware of the market opportunity." ATREE Founder Trustee R Uma Shanker said that though alternative and innovative way was shown to earn their livelihood still many are not coming forward. "If the training course was conducted for 40 only 5 or 10 tribals take up the work. Others hesitate. More awareness is needed. We are trying our best." He said the tribes who become members with Lantana Craft Centres, a registered society will be provided with Identity Card and become eligible for Rs 50,000 medical cover.

ATREE has won US Dollar 60,000 grant by the World Bank under 'Innovation Projects'. ATREE was one among the 700 organisations participated in the competition which was filtered to 140 and then to 40.

Dr Uma Shankar said that ATREE is exploring the possibility of introducing the Lantana craft in Chattisgarh and Uttaranchal since there is demand to empower tribals.

ATREE has set up Lantana Crafts Centres at various tribal belts including MM Hills, HD Kote, Kodaikanal, Tiruvanveli, Velur and Periyar Tiger sanctury.

Lantana which covers more than 70 per cent of the forest area is posing a threat for the growth of forest and their utilisation by tribals would not only help the forest department but also makes the families depending on forest to improving economic condition, he added.

Taking up Lantana craft also helps tribals falling prey to Naxalites due to poverty.

Replying to a question, Dr Uma Shanker said that "so far marketing is no problem. In fact, there is no supply to meet the present demand. More than 40 products were manufactured from Lantana. The quality of sofa sets, cot, shelf or any other article is equal to the one manufactured from bamboo and cost is also 50 per cent cheaper." However, there is need for creating more awareness about the benefits of Lantana craft because though about 40 attend training only five or six opt for continuing and remaining adopt a 'wait and watch' approach despite the raw material being free.

He said it was proposed to set up Lantana Producers Association. The government should come forward to provide marketing, building of sheds for Lantana craftsmen so that they can work in a particular place.

ATREE is holding 'MM Hills Mela' every year to provide a platform to Lantana craftsmen from southern states to display their products and exchange their views with each other.

Lantana Camera, a south African species, was first introduced in India as an ornamental plant by the British in 1807.

Koravas and other communities started using Lantana for basket making in 1940, Dr Anil Joshi promoted the use by making furniture and ATREE introduced the craft to South India in 2004. Since then the life of many tribals have been changed and many more has to come forward to improve their economic condition. (UNI)

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