KOCHI: With big companies luring customers at cheaper rates, smaller production units in the district are not lagging behind. The Kudumbasree is all set to set up its markets in different areas around the state. On September 1, the Kudumbasree will be launching 125 markets in the district. With two markets at the district level, 17 at the block municipality level and 106 in the grama panchayats, the Kudumbasree units have generated their ‘Unique Selling Proposition’ competing with the other markets. The main market will be on the Durbar Hall ground, in partnership with the IRDC fair. Banana chips, sharkara varatti, unni appam, pickles and varieties of payasam will be part of the sale. “We are planning to sell all Onam- related products - ranging from food products to jasmine. But apart from these, the markets will also sell home- made handicraft items, sandals and goods.The state government has already distributed Rs 15,000 each to help the entrepreneurs set up their stalls. To encourage the women to render their services, the District Kudumbasree Mission is also disbursing an interest-free loan of Rs 10,000 to each entrepreneur. “Women are interested. Up till now, we have already given up to Rs 6 lakh loan to these people,” said Tanny Thomas, Kudumbasree District Mission Coordinator. As part of the programme, a special Thiruvonam CD is also being sold. Close on the heels of the Kudumbasree, the congress-backed Janasree Mission will conduct ‘Onam vipanana mela’ in all the 14 districts of the state. This is for the first time in the state that the Janasree is undertaking an exhibition of this scale. At these functions the organisation will sell items produced by its 50,000 units spread across the state. One of the highlights of the exhibition is sale of organic vegetables. The organic vegetables are grown in the kitchen gardens of Janasree members. Banana, ginger, elephant yam, and tapioca will be available at the exhibition. The sale will be the first step towards Janasree’s organic food campaign. Another priority item at the sale will be honey. There will be both the wild variety of honey named ‘cheruthen’ and the farm-produced ‘vanthen.’ ‘Vanthen’ is produced at the homes of Janasree members. Apart from these, there will be a number of other food stalls selling various traditional snacks and payasam. Soaps, brooms, handloom towels, dress materials and ready-made garments are some of the other attractions.
Comments
0 comment