Good old used articles find new homes

Unwanted household goods get a new life at Kalpataru

Based on the concept that drives thrift stores such as Salvation Army and Goodwill Abroad, the TVS group in Madurai has launched one of its own called the Kalpataru. During lockdown 1.0, when the pandemic made people realise the need to be frugal, a team of innovators at TVS group of schools and TVS Sri Chakra came up with the idea of rebranding an old initiative. A drive to collect unwanted goods from the city’s residents was launched. “People willingly donated and there was no shortage of second-hand goods, said M Thilaka, the project director. After weeks of home isolation induced spring-cleaning in many homes, people brought their used clothes, utensils, furniture, electrical and electronic gadgets and an array of other dysfunctional goods. It is human tendency to keep buying stuff and use them only for a brief period. “We give such items a new life,” said project coordinator Selvi Santosham.