Alternatives to Plastics: Manjappai Bag from Tamil Nadu

The traditional yellow cloth bag or manjappai as it is called in Tamil has been making the news ever since the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched a campaign to revive and encourage the usage of this pollution-free plastic alternative.

Manjappai is a household name across Tamil Nadu. The ubiquitous yellow bag has been in use for generations to carry medicines, documents or groceries. It would be given away at weddings, engagement ceremonies or by shops with their brand name printed in block letters. For long, carrying a manjappai was synonymous to acknowledging one's rural background.

So what is so special about this bag? Manjappai is a symbol of a world without single-use plastics. It is a multi-purpose, reusable alternative to the devastating polythene bags which choke and devastate our environment.

By using cloth bags like manjappai you are changing the habit and contribute to a cleaner and healthier surroundings! Manufacturing of cloth bags also provides livelihoods to many women-tailors!

Tell us about your contribution to our environment and make sure to send the photos in! It is simple, just tap the image icon in the top right, or click here.