Chennai: Bringing rural products to urbans

Chennai: A city-based businessman is sourcing crafts from village artisans across the country and bringing village-based items to buyers in the city.

Started by Ajoy Kumar and his associates, the Village Craft outlet in Vilambur, 45km from Mahabalipuram was inaugurated on April 23, and since then has been abuzz with people visiting the vibrant display of traditional craft items.

Up for display are myriad products spanning borders – grass baskets from the North East to Etikoppaka and Kondapalli toys from Andhra Pradesh to traditional games and puzzles from Varanasi to terracotta items from Trissur in Kerala.

“The craft belonging to artisans fails to get the place or the price it deserves in today’s world. I wanted to go to places across India and put their work on display, while giving them the due price,” said Ajoy, speaking of his venture, where he buys from the artisans and displays them at Village Craft.

What also makes the outlet special is the inclusion of items made by 32 special children, of Vasantham School in Chennai that has been put on sale, and the sale proceeds to be going for their education and development.

Also, on cards is a training centre in Kadapakkam to teach women in Edaikazhinadu to make products from palm leaves. Ajoy said, “Edaikazhinadu consists of 24.5 villages, and it has abundant palm trees. I am aiming at is bringing artisans from Pazhavelkadu, who are adept at making things including bags, baskets, and boxes out of palm leaves, and get them to train these women.”

This would be as part of a women-empowerment project that would train the women, and pay them for the products they make.