Netti handicraft making

Accessibility
Road Transportation prevails poor as signs for distance measurement. Road names and their signs are present in good condition. No facilities for Persons with Disabilities.
Accommodation
No place around, since the location is a residential area.
Safety & Security
Access to security can be ensured by Mela Anuppanadi Police Outpost – 850 m from the village entrance. For Health emergencies, visitors could reach Velammal Hospital and Medical College – 7.4 kms

Netti – the sponge wood Aeschynomene Indica or Aeschynomene Aspera, a herbaceous plant of the bean family. Poor quality pith has many nodes, a hard bark, and a reddish core. Good quality pith is pure white in colour with a soft surface and no fractures – which are used to make toys, flowers, garlands for religious purposes. This plant fibre is extracted during the period of January to March, but it is difficult to harvest as the plant could be spotted in water filled areas – especially Lakes, Riverbanks. The process of carving out intricate hand made works, after drying the plant out of wetness, is prescribed to be done with due care due to use of haphazard tools. The art of making crafts from Netti is losing it’s sheen due to financial constraints and reduced chances of passing the insights to the lineage of families engaged in making these finesse artworks.

1. Initially, peel off the brown skin from the pith.
2. Then slices it into thin sheets. Soon, the long stem is reduced to a small heap of Translucent paper like pieces.
3. He picks a thin slice, dips it in water and skilfully moulds it between his fingers.