They build with bamboo; preserve ecology

Can you briefly tell us about your journey behind starting the social enterprise?

As a newly married couple in 2006, I and my husband were looking to buy a sofa set but ended up learning about bamboo furniture. This ignited some ideas in our minds and continued our research. We found out that National Institute of Design professors were training some clusters in Katlamara in Tripura. As we connected with them, they asked us to come and experience it. We travelled to the village and spoke to the artisans there. They said their interest was fading as they couldn't sustain the making of furniture. To help them create market linkage, we ordered mix and match furniture worth Rs 1.5 lakh from them but some of the pieces developed cracks due to weather conditions and other reasons. Then we travelled to several other places and met different artisans to strengthen our knowledge about working with bamboo including the methods for almost one year.

How far is Indian Forest Act relaxed in Telangana?

After bifurcation of the State it has become more difficult to work. But we no longer work with bamboo poles; instead we work with bamboo ply boards. Bamboo being part of grass family, if not harvested after seventh- or eighth-year, entire clump will die anyhow. So this benefits us and our activity does not contribute to deforestation.

What is the investment model you follow?

In the beginning, we spent money in travelling, learning, and exploring to gain experience. It's been sixteen years; we don't want to adopt that model. The customers pay us upfront; first 70 per cent, then 20 per cent and finally the remainder 10 per cent. We understand the problems of the entrepreneurs in the industry, we don't want to scale it up hence other investors not required. Also, our product being custom-made, finding a fixed market is a challenge. Now, eco-friendly is the buzz word and people are coming forward. Initially we had to sell the concept to people and create awareness around it.

Please tell us more about your business - how many houses did you build so far what price you have been charging?

We have build more than 400 houses till now across Telangana, Andhra, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Pune. We are focusing on houses, farm houses, kiosks, terrace houses, yoga centers, interiors, eco-friendly shops, wherever our concept suits and is viable, we tried to build something different. Houses that we build can last for 30 years. It is a standard material we use for everybody. It depends upon the customers' need; we decide the material type for construction. The price begins from Rs 1000 per sq. ft and goes up to Rs 1.5 lakh per house for the constructions we have taken up. Time taken for construction depends on the size of the house; if it is less than 500 sq.ft it takes four to five days, for 500 sq. feet building it takes 15 days. We used to make furniture with used vehicle tyres in the beginning, but no longer doing it.

What innovations you have done in use of material for construction?

We are already into using recycled plastic waste for building houses. We are more into using agricultural waste boards and jute boards besides bamboo for construction of houses now-a-days.

Do you get any corporate orders?

To list a few of our corporate ventures - In Miyapur metro station's parking lot, we built a room with plastic waste for their office purpose. We have built a cafeteria in Google, we built sit-out at US consulate. However, we find comfort in working with individual projects such as independent houses or apartments. It has been a long time we have worked with GHMC and built thirty 'give away' and 'share' kiosks with used plastic bottles. All Thanks to Hari Chandana Dasari, who was Zonal Commissioner West of GHMC.

How many artisans work with you?

Ten artisans have been working with us for ten years. They are from Adilabad but stay with us here and we pay them monthly salary. Now, we have outsourced business model, which means it depends upon the place we get orders. For example, if we have an order outside Telangana, we look out for artisans living near the project site. We look for artisans who can work on windows and roof structure. Almost 150 people are involved from getting raw material from the forest to completely built house.