The Observer Volume 18, Issue 19

The Observer An IIJNM Publication

Women of Kushtagi taluk prefer cloth to sanitary napkins, risking their health |P2

Vol 18 Issue 19

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Future wars will be fought over water says Chief Minister Kumaraswamy |P3

News Briefs National lAn Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistani forces during a dogfight between fighter jets from the two countries along the Line of Control and continued exchange of crossborder fire after India’s air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp at Balakot in Pakistan. The February 25 pre-dawn raids were carried out to avenge a February 14 suicide attack by a Jaish terrorist. lThe government has capped trade margins of 42 cancer drugs at 30%, expanding the span of price control to reduce undue profiteering by chemists and drug stockists on various medicines on the recommendation from the health ministry.

International lDonald Trump‘s former lawyer Michael Cohen has accused the President of being a racist and a conman who used his inner circle to cover up politically damaging allegations about sex. lCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rejected an opposition leader’s demand for his resignation.

His former justice minister, Jody Wilson-Raybould, had alleged that government officials inappropriately pressured her to help a major company avoid a corruption trail.

: Hundreds of students from schools in Bengaluru converged at NIMHANS on Thursday to celebrate National Science Day. They went from exhibit to exhibit and admired the work of their counterparts from other schools. National Science Day is celebrated on February 28, the day Sir CV Raman discovered the Raman Effect. (Report on page 3) | Credit: Oisika Dev

Drone tech goes to school

It’s based on DIY kits which students can use Shrabona Ghosh

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tal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL), an initiative under the Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission, has come up with a drone technology for school students.

Called ‘Drone Module: Get, Set, Go’, the technology is based on do-it -yourself kits that students can apply to create innovations.

“With the ATL Drone Module, students will learn how to create their own drones and use them for solving community problems in India,” said Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog.

A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It is an aircraft without a human pilot.

R Ramanan, mission director, Atal Innovation Mission, informed The Observer: “Drones have a range of possible applications. It is a wide concept which can be applied by students for a variety of innovations. It is a doit yourself-kit that will help students understand the technology better and apply its in creating innovations.”

Ramanan added: “In the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, drones are one of the most promising technologies, integrating the concepts of physics, maths, chemistry, engineering and sensor technologies and creating a tremendous range of innovative solutions that can be developed using them.”

The application of drones can range

from transportation, agriculture, climate change, weather forecasting, urban planning, healthcare, mining, defence and surveillance.

Drona Aviation, an IIT Bombay startup, has collaborated with the Atal Innovation Mission to launch a drone technology.

ATL’s vision is to cultivate one million children in India as “neoteric (new, modern) innovators”. Through ATL, young innovators get access to latest technologies of microelectronics, Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, robotics, drone technology and artificial intelligence.

Continued on page 3

Post-Brexit, India-UK trade likely to increase

Ileena Dutta

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usiness transactions between India and the United Kingdom are projected to increase after the post-Brexit trade deal that was signed by the Indian and British governments.

“Imports and exports will escalate with time and effort between the two countries. We hope that though the number of transactions haven’t changed yet, they will escalate with

time as the UK is one of the leading trading partners of India,” Ganesh Bhagath, pricing senior adviser at Dell, Bengaluru, informed The Observer.

A confidential joint UK-India Trade Review that was released to ‘Greenpeace Unearthed’ (the UK’s awardwinning journalism project) stated that India would be among one of the countries that won’t benefit from the post-Brexit deal. But a range of statements by British officials regard-

ing non-tariff barriers suggested that the UK government would strengthen trade bonds with India.

“Our company deals in imports and exports from the UK, and (has) observed changes in the demand and supply of goods and business transactions between the two countries in recent times. This will definitely be beneficial in maintaining long-term trade relations and industry expansions,” Sukhvinder Singh, senior manager at Essar Capital, Bengaluru,

said at an event.

During talks on free trade agreements, the UK said it would prioritize the markets of major developing countries like India and China. It also decided to unilaterally embrace low or zero tariffs and offer the same to its trading partners.

“The frequency of imports and exports and the lowering of tariffs on specific goods have helped us to send and accept more cargo and cultivate reasonably more amount than be-

fore,” Sukhvinder Singh added.

According to the website Tradecraft, developing countries trying to increase their processing capacity currently face tariff escalation in higher value products. For example, unroasted green coffee beans do not attract a tariff, but roasted beans attract an ad valorem tariff of 2.6% under the GSP scheme; unroasted decaffeinated coffee attracts a tariff of 4.8% under the scheme.

Continued on page 3

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RURAL KARNATAKA

Kushtagi hates ‘obnoxious modern’ sanitary napkins Most women in taluk use cloth, cotton

Yohanjali R

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angeetha, 14, doesn’t get ready for school as usual and hides in a corner of her home. She whispers to the mother, who takes her outside and hands her a piece of cloth before returning to the kitchen.

Sangeetha comes back after a while and sits in a corner.

She has missed school because she is menstruating.

“I have to change it every two hours. In school, it’s not possible. That’s why I don’t go,” says Sangeetha, who seems ashamed of her period.

The mother, Yamanova, says women in the family have always used cloth during menstruation. “We don’t think there is any other way. We have used cloth for the about 40 years now. First it was me, then her.”

Yamanova soaks cloth in a mixture of phenyl and water and reuses it.

Kushtagi taluk is struggling

methods.

Gowsiya Attar, who works at the Kushtagi taluk o f f i c e , says: “I am aware a b o u t sanitary pads. But not many w o m e n use them.

Only 56 percent of women in Karnataka use hygienic The obvimenstrual products.| Courtesy: Vecteezy ous reason to make its women aware about is money. Most families cannot menstrual hygiene. afford them. Another reason is While most women use cloth that they are not easily availor cotton instead of sanitary able.” napkins, the rest shun pads be“I switched to sanitary pads cause they are “obnoxious mod- late in my teenage. But every ern things”. time I bought them, I felt guilty “They are chemicals, after all. due to their price and the expense Sanitary pads will create infec- they added,” Attar shares. tions and other diseases. That’s According to an article by why I don’t use them and don’t Pragya Sood in The Times of encourage others to use them,” India, around 18% of women says Sharada M. do not have access to hygienic According to the National menstruation products.

Family Health Survey, around Most women in the taluk 62% of women in the 15-24 age don’t even know about sanitary group use cloth when they men- pads, as was the case with Sanstruate. In Karnataka, only geetha and her mother; they 56% of women choose hygienic continue to use old methods.

Sangeetha says she had menstrual tract infection a few times but did not consult a doctor. “It has happened to me as well. The infection keeps occurring when we use cloth,” the mother adds.

Block program manager Prakash Gowda, who manages campaigns, awareness programs and workshops held by the taluk hospital, says: “We distribute sanitary pads for free, but no one attends those events. Both men and women are reserved on these matters. We have been trying to spread awareness on hygienic menstrual methods but till date it’s only been a one-way communication.”

The district hea lth officer, who didn’t want to be named, said: “We have followed the government’s order and provided free sanitary pads. But the main issue is disposal of these pads. When people use it for the first time, they don’t know how to dispose of them.

So they go back their old method of cloth. Awareness on not just usage of pads but also disposal has to be given to the rural women.” yohanjali.r@iijnm.org

The Observer Thursday, February 28, 2019

Around the City lOye Stand up atta galata @ Atta Galatta , south Bangalore, March 1, 8pm lPattachitra Painting on Ganjifa Cards @ The Arts Village, central Bangalore, March 1, 3pm l3 Minutes to fame (Open Mic Night @LaheLahe) @ Lahe Lahe ,east Bangalore, March10, 5.30pm lKitchen Konnections with storytellers Lavanya Prasad & Sowmya Srinivasan - With Sowmya Srinivasan, Lavanya Prasad @ Village Story , Bangalore, March 9 ,11:30pm lMicrolight flying Bangalore @ Jakkur Airfield, north Bangalore, March 3 ,7am lKunti betta sunrise trek with water activities, Kunti Betta, March 2, 2.30 pm lWoodcut print making workshop for beginners @ Bloom & Grow , south Bangalore, March 10 , 2.30pm

City Speaks Rising pollution The current situation at Yelanahalli Main Road in Akshaya Nagar is troublesome for residents and commuters. Pollution is high in the area, causing health issues to the residents. Media should extensively cover the issue and highlight the difficulties of the people living in this area.

Sayantan Sarkar, IIJNM student

Banahatti weavers are laid low by working on old machines

Sitting with legs crossed has left them in pain Abbinaya Kuzhanthaivel

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eavers in Banahatti are suffering from knee pain for many years. They have found no solution in spite of consulting doctors and getting treatment.

Malappa Chengirappa Mirgi, 60, is a weaver in Banahatti, 90km from Bagalkot, has bent legs. One can clearly spot his disfigured knees as he moves with great difficulty. ”I have severe pain in my knee joints and a problem in moving freely. I went to the government hospital here and took many tablets. I even tried using ayurvedic oil, but all my efforts to get rid of the pain went in vain. It started with mild pain and

eventually I found my knees losing shape. I have been weaving for more than 40 years. I continue to weave in pain to feed my family,” he informed The Observer.

Banahatti in Jamakhandi taluk exports sarees to other states and countries. The taluk, where weaving is the main occupation, has over 2,000 power looms. Many traditional weavers still use old machines that require them to sit cross-legged for long durations, deforming their lower limbs.

Sameena Javid Faniban said her mother-in-law KareemanBanu suffers from knee pain.Treatment at big hospitals in cities has brought him no relief.

“I was very strong. I often ignored the pain and continued to work. But I wasn’t able to continue as I had excruciating pain. Sameena took me to Bengaluru hospitals but I have no relief. I cannot walk and I am bedridden,” KareemanBanusaid.

Ashabi Athni,said “I have been

Weaving for long hours has led to the weavers getting knee osteoarthritis. | Credit: Abbinaya K weaving for 30 years. I have mild pain in my knee joints. I can’t stop weaving, as this is the only source of income in my family. If I forget to take medicines, pain will badly affect my sleep at night.”

Sangappa Kundagol, president of the Weavers’ Union,Banahatti, concurred that most of the weavers suffer from knee pain because they sit cross-legged for long while weaving. Weavers are happy because of power looms, he added A government doctor in the taluk who didnot wish to be named said he sees 4-6 cases of knee-joint pain in a day and refers them to orthopaedicians.Orthopaedicians in Bengaluru said it might be knee osteoarthritis.

“I suspect it could be knee osteoarthritis. It is not possible to say without diagnosis. Anyone aged about 50 can get arthritis in the knee. Weaving may put more pressure in the knees. It is because of usual wear and tear at the knee joints. It cannot be cured but can be delayed if diagnosed earlier. Knee-replacement surgery is the only solution if the patient is in the

final stage. That also may not work if the patient resists posttreatment care and exercises,” said Dr Varun Shetty, an orthopedician working with the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics.

Dr BS Bharath Raj, a resident medical officer at the institute, said any solution could be given only after thorough diagnosis.

“Any regular work like squatting, walking, bending that puts pressure on the knees can cause osteoarthritis of the knees.”

A study published in the Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics conducted in 2012 revealed that carpet weavers in Iran had a high risk of knee arthritis compared to non-weavers. No study has been conducted in India on this, but research articles say osteoarthritis is one of the top five chronic diseases in India. abbinaya.s@iijnm.org

The Observer Thursday, February 28, 2019

CITY

CM: Future wars will be fought over water ‘Let us make people aware of shortage’

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The government announced the Jalamrutha programme to spread awareness about water conservation. | Credit : Yusha Rahman opment and Panchayati Raj Department, the project will encourage people to use water prudently and consciously through rainwater harvesting, use of technology and innovative applications.

Under the project, one crore saplings will be planted in every district to stem the tide of deforestation and sustain water bodies.

The saplings will be planted in collaboration with the private sector, NGOs educational and research institutions and farmers.

The scheme proposes a comprehensible rural water supply scheme that will supply potable water from rivers to the rural habitats. An amount of Rs 4,000 crore has been earmarked by the government to implement this scheme in Raichur, Vijayapura, Mandya and Kolar districts.

The government had announced

the Jalamrutha programme to spread awareness about water conservation among the people.

The programme envisions a fourpronged approach to educate the people while conserving water bodies.

Spread over two years, the programme will promote a smart water culture among the people.

Grapes farmer Kulkarni said, “The government should also figure out a way to release sufficient water in the canals. Farmers like us are facing a lot of challenges. We left our jobs to farm here. The government should listen to our demands” While the government seems upbeat about its initiative, the farmers claim that the government is living in its own bubble. They say that the government is completely ignoring the reality on the ground.” pranay.p@iijnm.org

en thousand Bengaluru residents who have lived in unauthorised constructions received possession certificates from chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday.

The possession certificate is one of the important documents issued by the BDA to owners of properties or lands after thorough A beneficiary is handed possession certifiverification. The certificate cate |Credit:Abbinaya is necessary when a person wants to apply for a loan. The benefiDeputy commissioner BM Vijay ciaries who had applied for regular- Shankar said: “Possession certifiization of houses on government land cates will be issued to people in Benunder Section 94C and 94CC of the galuru North, South, East including Karnataka Land Revenue Act. Yelankha and Anekal. It is a move to Under the land act, a person can be give authorization to the poor people granted a land in case of construction dwelling in houses in Bengaluru’s peof dwelling house in occupied land ripheral areas.” prior to January 2015 .

Narayana MR, a beneficiary of In case of 94CC - Grant of land in the scheme, said that he is happy that case of construction of dwelling house government has helped them after in occupied land in urban areas.Land long years. can be granted even if the ocupied “I have stayed in the same home land is in urban area.Notwithstanding for past 30 years and now I know it anything contained in it. would be my own. There were bad The Chief Minister said: “People times when we didn’t have water and can avail this benefit under the rev- electricity for our need. I applied for enue act. The state government will possession certificate five months ago provide Rs. 1.5L for every house... and am happy to get it.”

We have also promised bank guaranPeople who haven’t applied for the tee upto 3 to 4 Lakhs so that middle schemes yet can do so till March 31, class and poor people can afford to 2019. build a house”. abbinaya.k@iijnm.org

NIMHANS celebrates National Science Day

Trade between India and UK to increase after Brexit

Continued from Page 1 The tariffs are even higher when the European Union (EU’s) mostfavoured-nation tariffs are applied with 7.5% duty applied to roasted coffee and 8.3% for unroasted decaffeinated coffee.

After the post-Brexit trade deal, a treaty was signed between India and the Unitted Kingdom (UK) regarding cyberspace, technology sharing, solar energy, animal husbandry and Artificial Intelligence.

There has been increasing trade in goods and services between the two nations since 2000.

“It is very important for transparent trade norms for a UK-based company to survive in Indian markets. The FTA negotiations after Brexit did help us escalate imports from UK in a hassle-free manner,” said Simran Saini, a merchandiser at Marks & Spencer.

The UK markets have the most potential to boost Indian imports and exports after Brexit.

The post-Brexit free trade agreement has led to clearance in low tariff products’ movement between nations, said Pooja R, a payroll officer at Tesco, a UK-based company. ileena.d@iijnm.org

10k living in unauthorised constructions given possession certificates Abbinaya Kuzhanthaivel

Pranay Prakash nnouncing the inauguration of the Jalamrutha scheme introduced in this year’s budget, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said on Thursday: “We have to make people aware of the shortage of water and the problem it causes. We will celebrate 2019 as Water Year. If there is going to be a war between states and countries in the future, it is going to be over water.”

With an outlay of Rs 500 crore announced in this year’s budget, the programme envisions renewed focus on water preservation, water literacy, re-energising water sources and green cover. The scheme proposes to rejuvenate 14,000 water bodies in the next two years along with the creation of 12,000 check dams over the same period.

Chidambar Kulkarni, a resident of Indi taluk in Vijayapura, said: “What will the government conserve and educate the people about? There is no ground water available, and it has not rained for the past four years. There is no water to conserve in our district.

I am not sure how the government will conserve water here?”

Planned as a convergence project with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGA) and the Rural Devel-

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Oisika Dev

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n National science Day NIMHANS disseminated the importance of Science in everyday life by exhibiting different Brain Science models.

“The main objective of celebrating Science day is to kindle young mind and encourage them to use science in everyday life,” says Dr.Laxmi T Rao a doctor at NIMHANS. The event was divided into three sections 1.Basic Science 2.Behavioural Science 3. Neurological Science . This event was inagurated by Professor B.N.Gangadhar at 9.am today.

The event was open to school,college students and public from 9.00a.m. to 6.00p.m..Apart from students this year’s exhibition has also attracted a large “We have tried to show more number of models this year. The Bio -medical department is the new addition this year. This year we have also included ‘street play ‘on psychological and psychiatric diseases to increase awareness about the disease it. Our main objective is to trigger young minds The only

National science day was celebrated at NIMHANS today in their campus. | Credit: Oisika Dev way to prevent brain drain in India is to educate the young minds and make them understand that their nation needs them. All the facilities that are available in foreign country are available here . “ Dr Laxmi T added.

Contrary to last year,“this year they have included a large number of mind games, cognitive testing, display of laboratory equipments, display on painless micro-neurology ,model making from neurological and Psychiatric rehabilitation centre, carpentery centre etc. I like the mind game section most,” says

a class 8 student Nirmala Sinha of VVS international school”.

More than 250 members which includes staff,students and volunteers had been involved in the exhibition this year.

“Only last week we were taught the functions of cerebrum. It was interesting to see a real brain ,“says a class 9th student Amrutha Pillai.

“These kinds of exhibitions are actually very important in inculcating a love for science among students too,” says David a teacher of Sharda International School. oisika.d@iijnm.org

Drone tinkering Continued from Page 1 The GOI sanctions Rs 20, 00,000 for the setting up and maintenance of a lab for a period of five years.

According to the website Dronezone, a drone is made up of light composite materials to increase its maneuverability. These lightweight materials are highly complex composites that absorb vibration.

Drones are controlled by remote ground control systems also known as ground cockpits. An UAV is divided into two parts: the drone and the control system . The sensors and the navigational system are located at the nose of the UAV. There are different types and size of drones. shrabona.g@iijnm.org

WEATHER Partly cloudy sky Minimum Temperature: 20 degree Celsius Maximum Temperature: 33 degree Celsius

OBSERVER TEAM Editor- Shrabona Ghosh Page Layout: Ileena Dutta, R Yohanjali, Sahana S Reporters: Pranay Prakash, Sahana S, Shrabona Ghosh, Oisika Dev,Ileena Dutta, Abbinaya Kuzhanthaivel, R Yohanjali

Arts & Culture

SUPPLEMENT

The Observer Thursday, February 28, 2019

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A Meditation in Clay

The Buddhist tradition of making Tsa figurines is both a social custom and a deeply personal journey, says Anuradha Sriram

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aking Tsa-Tsas pacifies obstacles, bad conditions, accidents, and sudden diseases like heart attacks and paralysis. By making Tsa-Tsas you pacify enemies and interferers. You accumulate all merit, purify all obscurations and achieve the resultant three kayas in a future life.”– Lama Zopa Rinpoche Tsa-Tsa (pronounced sha-sha) is a word transliterated from Sanskrit to describe Buddhist handcrafted figurines made of clay and painted in vibrant colors.

They are a part of popular culture and feature prominently in auspicious occasions like marriages and religious initiations. Nyima Dolma Sundari,a scholar and an adept in making Tsas, was born to second generation NepaleseBuddhist immigrants in France.

Initiated into the tradition by renowned Buddhist master Karma Dorjee Lama, Nyimapractices Tsas as a meditative technique to enhance mindfulness. Nyima is also a business executive and a student ofBharatnatyam.

Nyima has observed changes

in herself and has experienced a process of growth after she learnt the art form. Every minute task, whether it’s going to the river, collecting fresh clay and orpaintingthe finished artifact all form a part of a meditative process, she tells Anuradha Sriram.

Can you tell me what Tsa means in Tibetan?

In Tibetan, Tsa means to ‘breathe life into’ something. On another

level, I see them as symbolizing molds insufflate with energy or life into a representation like a

figurine. These molds can represent deities, animals, symbols etc.

What is the origin of the Tsha art?

People of the Himalayas have been shaping clay and have passed on the secret of their art through generations of their families. The Tsa art comes from a time even before the bonpo tradition, a form of Tibetan shamanism that preceded Tibetan Bud-

dhism.Bonpos sought to appease the local gods and spirits of the mountain valleys, lakes and rivers

with prayers and offerings. The elemental beings were believed to cause natural disasters when angry. Hence, the effigies were used to appease and control them.”

How has tsa-tsa art form evolved in day to day practice?

The art form is pretty established throughout Asia and can be found in places of worship, monasteries, incorporated in architecture and jewellery. The first vocation is to be given in the offerings to the elements allowing them to disperse positive energy. Tsas are also usefully kept as a medium of protection to the house or on the altarin a Buddhist monument.They are subject to the elements of nature and thus made to be dissolved.

They are also preserved as relics which have become very precious over time.

What values do Tibetans draw from the use of Tsa artifacts?

Art is inspired by life and the clay figurines are a perfect example of that. Tibetans have a

strong belief system and talking about the artifacts,Tsa-Tsa once decomposed also direct the spiritual charge of prayers. The offering of Tsha is considered as apromise to accept the transformation of the tsa-tsa into sacred substances and, once blessed, to be offered or destroyed.

What makes the practice of Tsa-Tsa meditative?

One can create a number of patterns ranging from very simple to complex ones with just water and clay using the traditional mold.

When one gets involved in the process of making the figures one feels a new opening of their consciousness. These teachings bring out one’s creativity and imprints the same.Each discovery is a teaching and enlightenment around us.

The practice combines the experience of the gift, an act to purify, a preparatory act for meditation and an act for the accumulation of merit. In the Dalai Lama’s words, “If you bring more happiness to others, you get benefitted with more inner strength, more confidence, and fulfillment of the purpose of life. Then, you feel happy.”

Crafting a Global Market West Bengal wants to market its traditional handicrafts to the world, says Surbhi Jain

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est Bengal has a long tradition of promoting artisanal crafts and the annual Hastashilpa Mela is the state’s premiere event showcasing itshandicrafts made of bamboo, jute, mud, terracotta, wood and textiles.

“This is one of the largest handicrafts melas in the country,” says an official from the department of micro, small and medium enterprises and textiles (MSMET) of the West Bengal government. “Thousands of artisans come from far-away districts and earn upto Rs.15 to 16 lakhs here. Our planning and management is such that now artisans contact their district offices to be a part of this mela. This has become their bread and butter.”

Adds Alapan Bandyopadhyay, additional chief secretary of the MSMET department, “Government of West Bengal have also been trying to understand, address and capture this revolutionary world of retail. We have now created ‘Biswa Bangla’, a one-stop shop where all the best possible retail products of Bengal produced by our weavers and artisans are on display.”

At a retail summit organised by the Indian Chambers of Commerce, Bandyopadhyay used the example of the movie Sui Dhaaga which depicts the struggle of the artisan to become an entrepreneur. “Thousands of handicraftsman and weavers are trying to

stand on their own feet,” he said.

“They want the government to remove hindrances in their path to start a business with ease and that is what we do by meeting such people visiting their places.

Retail in India can probably succeed politically and ideologically if they relate themselves to this MSME world which is the core political world of today.”

He says the challenge before the both government and the wider community is to make these occupations commercially

viable. “Can we connect our artisans better?” he asks.“Could we structurally reach out a little more to Indian MSME, Indian handicrafts, Indian handwoven fabrics, Indian sarees, to all those products where there is quality but also there are dreams and aspiration of the last artisans?”

Says Ranjan Mondal, a madhukathi products seller from Paschim Midnapore, “Government covers all our expenses, be it travelling, food or anything important and also give us Rs.

75. They look after us as we are craftsmen, we use our hands all day and night to make such products.” Adds jute artisan, AbhisehkMitra from Gangasagar, “The income is good from this mela.

It gives us a bigger market.”

But as Suman Batra, an artisan working with the Ramakrishna Mission points out, “We do not get paid by the government. Rather we were chosen by the government to put up our shop.” That can prove a problem for some of the poorer artisans. Says Buli Roy

from Raiganj,“I stay here at nights and it feels very cold here. The government is surely providing facilities but Rs. 75 is not enough for such poor people like us”.

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ut additional secretary Bandyopadhyay sees the bigger picture, the endless possibilities that a bigger marketing thrust could give the state’s traditional crafts. “It is an elusive dream. But with the technologies around, with great marketing geniuses around and great companies around, I have a feeling that a little more effort could probably connect the last artisan to export better.

More focus is needed on this imperative and this challenge and this opportunity to connect the larger world to our native indigenous artisans and manufacturers.”

Different products of different ranges are available in the mela. It includes handmade furnitures, to coconut waste used show pieces, pottery products and and paintings to handmade lamps and handwoven woollen clothes from hilly stations like Darjeeling too. The list goes on.

The best part of it is, people who just got into a new house, can go to such melas and decorate their houses with all sorts of different The Hashtipal Mela which happens once is year sees a dominance of female artisans from Midnapore showcasing items available in the mela. their work. Most of them are Madhukati painters. | Credit: Surbhi Jain This is indeed a one stop shop.