Kerala - Kozhikode   

IRDP mela drawing large crowds

Staff Reporter

Rural products from Kozhikode and Wayanad districts are on display

FROM THE VILLAGES: Theyyan from Kunnamangalam block panchayat exhibiting his palm umbrella at the IRDP mela in the city on Tuesday. — Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

KOZHIKODE: The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)\Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) mela, which began here on Tuesday, is drawing large crowds. Rural products valued at Rs.1.5 crore from the 12 blocks in the district and three blocks from the neighbouring Wayanad district are on display.

One of the major attractions of the mela is the stall put up by the `Subhiksha' project from Perambra block panchayat. More than a dozen coconut-based products are on display at the stall, including chocolates, broom, soaps, coconut jells and burfi and coconut oil.

Theyyan with his palm-leaf umbrellas takes one to the old times when farmers and others used such umbrellas. `Maveli' umbrella (palm-leaf umbrella) and `thoppi' umbrella (an umbrella resembling a cap with the umbrella folding) are displayed by Theyyan of Kunnamangalam block panchayat and Andi of Koduvalli block panchayat. Theyyan is priced Rs.100 while Andi sells Maveli umbrella at Rs. 150 and `thoppi' umbrella at Rs. 100. "But now everybody uses plastic thoppi umbrellas," rues Theyyan.

Babu of Pookad in Panthalayani block panchayat displays various brass works, including a walking stick. Ligesh of Koyilandy has displayed products of various animals and birds carved out of coconut. Coconuts take the shape of a monkey, elephant, bird, fish or snake. Chakkittapara Cooperative Bank has displayed mushroom farming at its stall.

Akshaya project, Kozhikode, has put up a stall to create awareness of the project, which aims at making at least one person in a family e-literate in the district. Details about the project, the Akshaya e-centres in the district and how classes are handled at each centres are displayed at the stall. Bamboo products are also on display at various stalls. Viju and Prassanan of Girija Handicrafts, Wayanad district, have displayed miniature versions of a Taj Mahal and two mosques built out of bamboo.

Earthen vessels and flowerpots made of clay are on display at a few stalls. Terracota items are also available. Narayani of Kakkodi in the district has displayed earthen vessels. "I have come here for the 30th mela this year. Now it is difficult to get clay in the district. I source it from Palakkad to make my vessels," she says.

A canteen is also functioning at the mela ground. Saplings of plants and medicinal plants, vegetables are also on display. The Department of Dairy Development has put up a stall where anybody can test the quality of milk.

The testing is done free of cost during the mela days.

The mela is being held at Government Training College and Government Model Higher Secondary School, both near the Town Hall. Entry is free. The mela will conclude on September 3.

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