Adding to the colourful gamut of Indian culture, artisans from remote areas are taking part at the trade fair to display their skills. Shrabasti Mallik reports
Anita Babu, probably in her 60s, is busy crafting a web of coconut coirs, perfectly maneuvering them into small colourful baskets. Sitting comfortably in a corner, she displays her skills before a bunch of young guys who are too keen to procure her products. She asks the colours, sizes and forms and immediately produces a basket of their choice. Anita is among several other artisans who are fetching attention at the Kerala pavilion at the ongoing 34th India International Trade Fair. There are storage containers, jewellery made from bamboo and other products at display, hand-made by the downtrodden tribal communities which have come to participate for the first time. “Earlier only the finished goods reached the fair but this time we have brought women from the Wynad district which is a tribal area. It is the only place in Kerala which produces manipullu, a special kind of grass that is used to make brooms,” says Jasmine, market coordinator of Kudumbashree group from the state.
And not just brooms, one will find artisans making small decorative items out of coconut shells and pottery. “If one wants, one can even get the artisans to customise a product for them. Customers need to specify the size and the design first, but it has to be of a size which they can finish in a day of two,” she adds.
As we walk into the splendidly decorated Maharashtra canopy, a group of people greets us as they spin the traditional charkha. A quick glance captures another group making musical instruments like harmonium, sarod and sarangi. “We can customise these instruments as per the requirement of the buyer,” says craftsman Zuber Imtiaz Satem, as he continues to carve the hollow of the tanpura.
NEW-AGE CHARKHAS
One will find a series of boxes which look like suitcases right next to where the charkhas are spinning. “These are charkhas modelled for travelling purposes,” informs Rama Kant Pathak, another craftsman. Along with this they also have on display a charkha which runs on motor. “In an age where we are always short on time, this is a unique invention of ours (Gram Sewa Mandal),” he adds. Paithani silk sarees have always been the star attraction and now women will be demonstrating the painstaking process of making the intricate designs on the fabric.
Also, if you are fond of some authentic cuisine, head towards West Bengal pavilion. The state which is generally identified by its handicraft and cottage industry products will be a sheer delight. One can taste Krishnanagar’s sorpuriya and buy well-renowned maatir putul (clay toys). Visitors will also find weavers from the district of Alipurduar weaving intricate threadwork into an umbrella. “They are making designs with kurush (a traditional thread work) and the district has made a debut in this edition of the fair,” informs Priyanka, a coordinator.
CHECK-UPS
The Clean-India campaign is a big show at the fair. There are many initiatives at different pavilions in and out to keep the clean drive in motion. Each camp is a free clinic which conducts a free general health screening for non-communicable diseases like anemia, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. “We conduct tests, whose reports are delivered on the spot and then we guide the patient with proper healthcare education. We also have a cancer specialist team stationed at camp no 4 and dental camps,” says Dr Ahmed Nadeem lari from Delhi Health Service. Doctors from RMl, AIIMS and lady Harding are also part of the camps.
The Health Ministry will also contribute to the development of the sector through the launch of their online portal. “All information that makes a healthy human being is available at the click of a button now,” says Union Health Secretary, luv Verma. The ministry also aims to bridge the gap between urban doctors and rural doctors through telemedicine. He adds, “less than 15 per cent of qualified doctors work in rural areas. Telemedicine is an initiative which can connect the rural doctors to their urban counterparts so that expert advice can be shared without difficulty.”
BRAHMOS AT WORK
One will also find new technologies at the Defence Ministry. The new PCM (Phase Change Material) cool vest and cap, designed by the Defence laboratory, Jodhpur will benefit the military stationed in the deserts. The kit includes a vest with numerous pockets for PCM pouches which needs to be charged (cooled in deep freezer) for two hours before use. “This prevents a soldier from experiencing extreme heat and it can keep him cool for three hours,” says an official. The lab has also come up with Field Water Purifier which will help the military stationed at remote areas where they do not have access to pure drinking water. He adds, “The machine is portable and can be carried on the back with a filtering capacity of purifying 40 litres per hour.” That apart, the products from Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Science (DIPAS) will also benefit soldiers. Their Herbo Healer can be used on cuts and burns while Alocal will come as a great help to forces posted on high altitude. “Alocal is to treat frostbites, which is a major problem for soldiers stationed in places like leh and other mountainous regions,” says Ravi Gupta, director of public interface, DIPAS.
Defence Research and Development laboratory have come up with various missiles like Akash and NAG in the past. This time visitors will get to see BrahMos, the new addition to their collection of missiles. “BrahMos can travel 280 kilometers and can be launched from multiple platforms — land, air, sea and sub-sea” says an official. Over 6,500 companies and 25 foreign countries are taking part in the fair. Apart from showcasing a wide range of merchandise and services, the fair is riding high on ‘Make in India’ campaign to extend India’s appeal for investment.
photos Sanjeev Kumar