Does selling brooms in shops or handicraft exhibitions come under the ambit of the election Model Code of ConductIJ
With the broom allotted as the poll symbol of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) there were atleast some arisans in a handicrafts fair currently underway in Raipur who really wondered whether selling brooms are banned during the period of the Model Code of Conduct.
Mahadev and Rekha Telange, residents of Tuiyapani Pindrai in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, who have made their identity as artisans by searching the beauty hiding in palm leaves, are demonstrating their skill at the Mrignayani Madhya Pradesh exhibition going on in Town Hall these days.
However, some visitors to the exhibition have told Mahadev and Rekha about the Model Code of Conduct, but they said that broom is the need of every house and it is their traditional work.
Their family had received national award for creating unique art from palm leaves. Mahadev and Rekha of Mang caste, by involving new practice in their traditional work, have given publicity to brooms.
Rekha said that her mother Kanta had received national handicrafts award by making cup from palm leaves and had demonstrated her artistic skill in Dubai also.
Rekha said that she has a Self Help Group (SHG) in her village. Together, the women prepare decorative items from palm leaves, besides brooms. Brooms have special artistic work, because of which they are sold at from Rs 40 to 250. The couple imparts training in various cities at the behest of Handicrafts Department.
They said that “People say that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has promoted broom market, but we have nothing to do with politics.”