The clatter of activity at a mat-making unit on GNT Road in Moolakadai is almost continuous.
Following the floods, business has been brisk for this enterprise, as a variety of groups, ranging from voluntary organisations to political parties, are visiting it to purchase straw mats to provide as part of relief materials to those affected by the deluge.
Owner V. Annadurai is standing outside the shop, and supervising the work. Behind him, mats of different sizes and straws are stacked up.
A few men and women weave the mats; a few others cut the mats to proper sizes.
“Earlier, there were many mat-making units in North Chennai; most of them have to shut down due to lack of skilled manpower,” explains Mr. Annadurai.
Until a decade ago, he used to sell around 300 mats every day, but it has come down to 45. “However, following the floods, we have sold around 15,000 mats,” says Mr. Annadurai.
Each mat costs anywhere between Rs. 80 and Rs. 100 and, on an average, the unit makes around 450 mats a day. It takes an hour to make four mats.
P.H. Shajahan, a mat-dealer in Tulasingam Street, Pudupet, said 300 mats used to be sold every day earlier.
“After the floods, it shot up to 3,000 a day as many people started purchasing and donating them to others. Now, the demand has begun to come down,” Mr. Shajahan said.
Mr. Annadurai said he had donated around 200 mats during the floods.
“I reduced the price during the floods as many people were purchasing them to donate to others. There was a similar demand following the tsunami. It is only when disaster strikes, people take notice of such traditional items,” said A. Mahesh Kumar, Mr. Annadurai’s son.
