Monthly Archives: December 2015
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Tribal artisans struggle to keep a traditional craft alive
Lack of raw materials and marketing mechanism hurts bamboo artisans
The traditional craft of bamboo weaving, which was a major source of income for tribal artisans during the harvesting season, is facing a tough time in Wayanad district.
Bamboo artisan families are grappling with multiple challenges, including shortage of raw material, lack of an institutionalised marketing mechanism and a deluge of plastic household items in the market.
A few decades ago, bamboo utility products such as baskets, mats, fish traps, cradle and various household items were in huge demand among the farming community, especially bamboo baskets found takers during the harvest season of crops like coffee, pepper and paddy in the hill district.
However, the demand has declined sharply after the entry of plastic products in the market at a low price, Jyothi, a tribal artisan who sells bamboo products at a makeshift shed by the highway side here says.
Earlier, tribal people including the Kurichiya, Ooralikuruma, Paraya, and Paniya tribes were engaged making in bamboo- and cane-based handicrafts, but only a few tribal families are now active in the sector, she adds.
The availability of raw materials owing to massive destruction of bamboo plants in forest areas is the another concern for the artisans. “We are procuring the raw material now from private individuals at an exorbitant price and it is not viable to run the business now,” Murugan, Jyothi’s husband, says.
“We nurture our traditional bamboo craft against heavy odds to keep alive the age-old handicraft tradition,” Murugan adds. The government should lend a helping hand by ensuring adequate raw materials and marketing opportunities for sustaining the eco-friendly traditional craft, he appeals.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by E.M. Manoj / Kalpetta – December 16th, 2015
15
All set for first offshore combined commanders’ conference
Kochi :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his maiden visit to Kerala after assuming the post to address the first ever combined commanders’ conference to be held out of national capital, onboard INS Vikramaditya off the Kochi coast on Tuesday.
Sources from the Indian Navy said all arrangements are in place to receive the prime minister and defence minister Manohar Parrikar apart from other senior members of the cabinet and commanders.
“A special operational demonstration will be organised for the PM as part of the conference in which entire ships from Western Command will participate. Exercises including firing will be performed. A steam past will be performed where a fleet of ships led by INS Viraat will salute the PM onboard INS Vikramaditya,” said a defence source.
For the first time, Modi will also address all the field units through armed forces network from INS Vikramaditya after the conference is over, the source added.
Combined commanders’ conference is an event where the chiefs of staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force explain the achievements of the past year to the PM and other ministers, the issues and challenges the country may face in coming year. The conference will also discuss the strategic, operational, logistical and administrative aspects relating to the forces. It was later decided to start the custom from Navy and the conference will be held onboard India’s latest aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
It was Modi, during his address at the combined commanders’ conference in Delhi last October, suggested that the armed forces could organize such conferences on ships or in forward area cantonments or air-bases, instead of only in New Delhi. The conference was originally scheduled to be held in October, however it was postponed due to the Bihar elections.
The PM will return first from the INS Vikramaditya in a helicopter followed by other dignitaries in separate choppers. The details of the conference will be briefed to media in the evening by Defence PRO, according to Navy sources.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kochi / Shyam P V, TNN / December 14th, 2015