The Soroptimist International (Madurai) is making a splash of its tenth anniversary with a mega ‘go green expo’ . Over 100 vendors of eco-friendly products will put up stalls at Tamukkam grounds next weekend.“It promises to be a memorable meet-and-greet platform not only for the organic supporters but also the uninitiated,” says Dr.D Janet Casantha Kumari, president of the voluntary organisation.
“We want to promote the ‘back to nature’ concept and every product displayed will demonstrate it’s worthiness to our lives,” says the club’s founder president, Anitha Rajarajan.
“The expo is not just one-time project but a mission to take the city to a cleaner and greener environment,” she says. Using the ‘Green Exhibition’ as a tool to motivate people to buy organic and collectively make a difference, the Madurai Corporation and the Mahatma group of schools have also joined the initiative.
The participation of 12,000 school students has taken the excitement to a new level, says Premalatha Panneerselvam, the school’s founder-owner. The students will be present as volunteers to guide, help and explain to visitors the importance of the exhibition and the need to switch over to organic products. They will participate in and compere the cultural programmes daily evening besides conducting competitions in traditional games.
They will also create a village scene complete with a typical hut and things that villagers use for their living. Another star attraction is the selfie spot with Lord Hanuman. A life size model has been made by the students, who will also put up stalls of chemical-free pesticides and fruits and vegetables grown organically in their Alagar Koil campus.
The Aravind Eye Hospital will have a special stall to explain waste water management and rain water harvesting – the two systems it has successfully put in place in its hospitals across the State. Of interest would be exclusive stalls of local produce like the Madurai malli, jute bags and footwear, bamboo baskets and seaters, various palm and terracotta products, cocopith pots, differently flavoured honey and more. Vendors from Kerala and Puducherry will bring edible items and skin care products from cold pressed oils to cosmetics.
There will be organic baby clothes from Coimbatore, pith decoratives from Kolkata and pattamadai mats from Tirunelveli.
Those who believe in natural products and wellness will be joining us, either to sell, learn or buy, says Anitha. “This is not a fund raiser programme,” she says, “but a genuine effort to get people drawn to practicing eco-friendly items.”
WHERE: Tamukkam grounds (Entry free)
WHEN: July 19 to 21; 10 am to 9 pm