Thiruvananthapuram: Sushma Rani, an artisan from Telangana, had reached Chengannur last week to participate in
Saras Mela organised by
Kudumbashree with loads of tie-dye clothes worth Rs 4 lakh. She had hoped to sell her products in the state but is now stranded in the relief camp at All Saints’ College here. And, all she wishes now is to return home safe.
Rani is one among the 163
artisans from 18 states who had come to participate in the
fair at Chengannur municipal stadium, scheduled from August 14 to 23. The fair, showcasing handloom and handicraft products, had to be called off a day after the inauguration as rainwater flooded the venue.
“The organisers asked us to run for our lives but how will we survive when our business has drowned,” Rani asks.
Fair organisers shifted these artisans to Thiruvananthapuram in special buses. “We had shifted them to hotels after flood water entered the venue. With connectivity issues in Ernakulam and Chengannur, we decided to bring them to Thiruvananthapuram. We are also making an estimate of their loss to send requests for compensation,” Kudumbashree CEO Ajith Chacko said.
The artisans alleged that organisers did not warn them about the weather. “While it was raining heavily, we were asked to keep the goods on tables provided to us in stalls and leave the venue. Next day, we woke up and saw an inundated venue. Even the entry to our stall was blocked and we could not retrieve anything. They should have cancelled the fair in this weather condition,” said team coordinator Bapia Malladatta.
Being representatives of self-help groups, these artisans are worried about the loss incurred. “We do not have any proof of lost goods as we were asked to vacate the venue immediately. Many of us are trying to convince our fellow workers about the damaged goods by sending pictures of the flooded venue. Also, it is during such festivals that we make some revenue,” said Deepak Yadav of Uttar Pradesh, who brought jewellery and handicraft products to the fair.
