Chekutty dolls made of soiled sarees revive dreams of flood-hit Kerala weavers
(World News Science)

Thiruvananthapuram: A tiny handmade doll made out of soiled and damaged fabric has become a symbol of survival and hope for a group of weavers, whose dreams and livelihood were washed away by the floods last month in Kerala. A month after the deluge had ravaged Chendamangalam, a traditional handloom village in Ernakulam district, the weavers are pinning hope on 'Chekutty', dolls fashioned with handloom material spoiled in the floods, to rebuild their lives. Demands are now pouring in from across the globe for these dolls, conceptualised and designed by two social entrepreneurs to help the weavers raise funds out of the damaged fabric stock through crowdsourcing. With the...