THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Held back by a lack of funds and delayed government support, the Karthumbi Umbrella Project in Attappadi is struggling to keep up with the rising demand. Launched in 2014 by the tribal welfare group Thampu, the initiative has become a lifeline for tribal women in one of the state’s most marginalised regions.
“We’ve made around 12,000 umbrellas this year so far,” says Rajendra Prasad, coordinator at Thampu. “Once schools reopen, the number could rise to 20,000-22,000,” he said.
The project began with a goal to offer sustainable employment to tribal women who had little to no access to economic independence.
Currently, 30 women across 13 tribal hamlets are actively making three-fold and walking stick umbrellas at home, taking raw materials from a central store and stitching them during their free time. “One experienced woman can make up to 15-20 umbrellas a day. It takes about 20 minutes to make one. If she finishes 20, she earns Rs 600,” said Prasad.
These numbers could be much higher. But what is stopping them? A lack of consistent support. “We’ve trained 250 women but due to a fund crisis, we can’t offer jobs to everyone. The tribal department has not given the promised funds for the past three years. That’s holding us back,” said Prasad.
The gap between potential and capacity is stark. The team received around 25,000 enquiries this year from across the country, but couldn’t fulfil most of them due to the shortage of working capital. Sourcing raw materials is another hurdle.
“All the materials come from Bombay,” says Prasad, listing out the eight essential components-nylon cloth, tube frame, chanduwa, handle, top washer, kangri, inner ferrule and covers.
The total production cost comes to Rs 290-300 per umbrella, including labour, transport and packing. They sell it for Rs 350 in bulk, while it retails at `460 in shops.
“Some of the women used their income to buy two-wheelers, some built houses,” he said. But the profit margins have shrunk over time. “Initially, women got `75 per umbrella. Now it is Rs 30 because the cost of materials has gone up,” the coordinator added.
The project’s turning point came in 2023 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Karthumbi in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address.
“That gave us national visibility. We started getting calls from outside Kerala. One of the biggest orders came from Bank of Baroda, which bought 10,000 umbrellas at `350 each. But this year, though they contacted us, we have not been able to confirm the order,” Prasad said.
“Infopark has been a regular buyer. Earlier, panchayats used to place bulk orders too, but a new policy stopped that. We couldn’t take hostel orders this year either due to the financial crunch,” he said.
Despite these hurdles, the vision remains strong. “Our dream is to employ at least one person from each of the 11,153 tribal families in Attappadi,” Prasad said. “We want to build something that’s not just about income- it’s about pride, identity and empowerment,” he said.
And the project is achieving just that. “It brings confidence and dignity to women. Children using these umbrellas will know it’s a product from their community. It inspires entrepreneurship and encourages people to manage time, stay away from alcohol and tobacco, and learn banking and financial literacy,” Prasad pointed out.
Thampu is currently in talks with NABARD for support to scale up. If funding comes through, Karthumbi may finally be able to match its demand and fulfil its real promise: a self-sufficient, skilled, and proud tribal community.
“It’s no longer just about making umbrellas. It’s about reducing unemployment, improving nutrition, and showing that a product from a marginalised region can stand tall in the market,” shared Prasad.