A show of women power

IT WAS a `kolu', but on display were not dolls alone. A `kolu' exhibition- cum-sale that was also a show of women power. Organised by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women and Marketing Organisation for Women Entrepreneurs (MOOWES), an NGO, the exposition brings the best of Tamil Nadu to Chennai.

Whether it is shell artefacts from Kanyakumari, or colourful `Thengai-Paruppu Koodu', glass embedded plates, or dancing dolls from Thanjavur, palm and cane products from Tiruvallur, crochet lampshades and embroidered greeting cards from Villupuram, flower vases and pen stands made of coconut shells and bamboo, milk products from Aavin and plain `Panam Kalkandu' (palm candy) from Tuticorin, regular bandhini dupattas, saree and salwar kurtas from members of MOOWES, the exhibition is a colourful mix.

Greeting visitors to the expo is Mr. M. Desabandhu, Assistant in the Records Section of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Theirs is a `kolu' of plastics and its alternatives. If you want dolls, well there are wooden varieties, including the `Maraipachi Bommais', household articles like plastic buckets and cups can make way for stainless steel ones, a caution note on `PVC - the poison plastic' and like the three famous monkeys are three dolls that are supposed to tell us, ``See No Plastics, Hear No Plastics and Speak No Plastics'. And Government Departments please note: There were files made of jute and cotton instead of plastic folders distributed at seminars and conferences!

There are plenty of takers for jute products nowadays, says Ms. Hemalatha of Sai Jute Creations. ''With so much thrust these days on moving over to bio-degradable goods, jute has become a fashion statement and we get lots of orders for our bags and purses,`` she says.

Ms. Qudsia Gandhi, Chairperson and Managing Director of the Corporation said that the 93,000 self-help groups in various parts of the State usually joined-up with other marketing groups to sell their products and this was the first time such an exhibition was being organised.

''As 2001 is declared the year of Empowerment of Women, we are organising programmes for empowerment of women at various levels including police and other Government departments. We will hold one for IAS officials,`` she says.

The `kolu' says it all. With just dolls and placards, it throws light on problems faced by women from birth till old age, issues like female infanticide, neglect of the girl child, domestic violence and the least importance given to women in homes.

''While the woman is worshipped as a goddess, and people talk of the ardhanari concept, when it comes to equal rights and opportunities, it is never given to women,`` says Ms. Gandhi who plans to do more for women's empowerment through the Corporation.

The formal inauguration was done by Mr. P. Shankar, Chief Secretary.

For those visiting the exhibition which is scheduled to be held till October 14 from 10 a.m. to 8-30 p.m. besides stalls from all 30 districts, there is a canteen run also by a self-help group from Tiruvallur, dishing out hot cutlets, soups, fried rice and pop-corn.

By Akila Dinakar

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