9 April 2005	Saturday	29 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, April 8: A large number of people, mainly women, thronged the first-ever three-day mela of craftswomen of South Asian countries which began here on Friday at Alhamra’s Burney Gardens amid much fanfare.

The craftswomen from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka tied their hands with colourful ribbons to show oneness. They sang songs depicting their desire to jointly struggle for their rights, welfare and progress.

Prominent among them were the two organizers of the show — Ms Nigar Ahmad of the Aurat Foundation and Ms Chandni Joshi, Regional Programme Director of United Nations Development Fund for Women, South Asia Regional Office.

Local assistance has come from Punjab Social Welfare Depart-ment, Parks and Horticulture Authority, the city district government and other public and private sector organizations.

The mela has been organized to introduce home-based workers in South Asia directly to the consumers.

There are 32 stalls, a majority of them by Pakistani crafstwomen drawn from the length and breadth of the country, Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas. Unlike the announcement by the organizers, the participations by other Saarc countries is thin.

There are only two stalls by Indian women, and one each by Nepalese and Sri Lankans, which drew a large number of visitors who bought their products despite high prices.

There are 32 stalls, including that of traditional food of Pakistan and other countries. The products on sale include kurtis, saris, khadi cloth and jewellry from India; nokshi and jute products from Bangladesh, pashmina, bamboo and silver products from Nepal, coco shell items, gemstone and spices from Sri Lanka, blue pottery, chicken embroidery, bed linen, candles and leather goods from Pakistan.

From the commercial point of view the two stalls from India remained the most popular. “I have been to India several times and know prices of such items there. They are charging high,” a woman said. Still, she bought many items, mainly cotton apparels.

She said the quality of stuff at Pakistani stalls was much better but she wanted only to buy Indian and Nepalese items. “I can buy local goods anytime I like,” she said. Many visitors complained of high prices of Pakistani products also.

Ms Chandni Joshi said her organization had been guiding women of the region how to capture markets without middleman, to produce things in demand and how to secure their interests. “We are also struggling to provide facilities to these woman like social securities,” she said.

Ms Joshi said India had already worked a lot for the welfare of the home-based craftswomen. It had collected solid data of the craftswomen and formed a policy for their welfare and marketing of their products. This policy also included the provision of social security to them.

She said other countries too were following the example of India. The interest by informal organizations too was great, helping the craftswomen know how to capture markets.

Ms Farida Jalees, Vice-president of SEVA, Benaras, said she had brought craftswomen from different cities of India like Chandri, Udhampur, Lucknow and Ahmadabad. She said the prices were not high and the items were of excellent quality.

Ms Jalees said the craftswomen would directly benefit from the sale proceeds of the mela.