“As Tamil Nadu is heading towards eradicating use-and-throw plastic bags, this is an opportunity for women from families with low income to make cloth bags as a way to earn,” said R.M.J. Ramajeyam, programme director of YellowBag Foundation.

“In 2012, all it took was a single visit to the supermarket for the dustbin at home to overflow with use-and-throw plastic covers. Now, the bin for plastics gets filled only once in three months,” says Krishnan N Subramanian

The manjappai is seeing a revival as city-based eco-conscious couple Krishnan Subramanian and Gauri is giving the concept of cloth bags a new lease of life.