"Thanalidam was launched a year ago during UC College's centenary celebrations. Initially, it wasn't a thrift and eco-shop; it started as a midday meal program. This program provided free meals to students in need, maintaining confidentiality to the extent that even we didn't know the beneficiaries.
When the NAAC team visited last year, Thanalidam was a highlight. Today, Thanalidam has two sectors: the eco-shop and thrift shop. The eco-shop supports local farmers, women associated with and outside Kudumbashree, and small-scale cotton industries. We only sell organic products.
Last year, we organized an organic farmers' meeting, attended by farmers from across India. We now source products from some of these farmers. If you've visited Thanalidam, you might have noticed the mango puree , it is actually from Gujarat and the Raktha Sali rice from Palakkad farmers."
Regarding the thrift shop - "we collect clothes from UC students voluntarily, not by force. The students generously donate their gently used clothing."
Sreeparvathy PR(Student Coordinator)