The backwaters of Kerala provide water front for several major and small scale industries, amongst which coir retting industry ranks first. This industry provides employment to a large number of people, especially women folk, who find this work as the source of their principal income. Traditional conventional method of retting has adverse impacts on the ecosystem, including fauna, flora and human beings. Lack of dissolved oxygen, very high BOD, chloride, hardness, nutrients and low pH, with foul smell of hydrogen sulphide are the characteristic features of the retting yards. Socio-economic survey conducted in the coastal Panchayat of Kadalundi in Calicut District, through random sampling method, revealed the low financial, educational and health status of the target group. Only 52