The wide Kazimar Street, which branches off from the busy TPK Road near Periyar Bus stand, is one of the oldest settlements of Muslims in Madurai. Historical legends state that Hazrat Kazi Syed Tajuddin came to Madurai from Oman in the 13th century and established the Kazimar Big Mosque on a land given to him by a Pandya monarch.
Till date, the descendants of Syed Tajuddin, who is believed to be a descendant of Prophet Mohammed, live on the Kazimar Street. They are hereditarily elected as the town kazis.
Syed Ahja Mueenudeen, the current town kazi, said that the Kazimar Big Mosque, which was constructed by Tajuddin as a thatched structure initially, was the first place of worship for Muslims in Madurai. The street has had Muslims settlement for over 700 years, he said. Thus, Islam arrived in Madurai even before Malik Kafur’s invasion of Madurai in the 14th century.
History professor R Venkataraman opines King Maravarman Sundarapandian might have been the contemporary of Tajuddin. Even before the advent of Islam, Arabs maintained trade links with South India, especially for the pearls Madurai Pandya Kingdom was famous for. “Sufis, Muslim saints, started coming to Tamil Nadu by 900 AD. The entry of Islam to the region was peaceful as Sufis conceived God as love,” he said.
The short-lived Madurai Sultanate and Islamic influence did have their impact on the city, especially on warfare and town planning. “Muslim rulers introduced arch construction they learnt from the Romans. It changed the style of architecture here in a significant way,” Venkataraman remarked.
The Big Mosque, which is an architectural attraction, accommodates Madurai Maqbara which is the dargah of sufi saints Hazrat Meer Ahamad Ibrahim, Hazrat Meer Amjad Ibrahim and Hazrat Syed Abdus Salaam Ibrahim Rahmatullahi Alaihim.
Syed Ali Hussaini, the renowned Chennai-based stunt artist, is originally from Kazimar Street. Recalling the legend of Tajuddin, he said: “It is believed that Tajuddin came from Arabia to Kerala and reached Madurai where he established a mosque. He became popular for divine healing powers. The Pandya king was irked with his fame, but Tajuddin cured the king himself when he suffered from a stomach ailment. The king gave away a land for mosque in gratitude,” he said. “Even today Tajuddin’s descendents, numbering more than 2,000, are annually given a customary nominal share of the income from the waqf lands originally donated by the king,” he added.
Till the 1980s, the residents of the street were engaged in rearing horses, rams, cocks and pigeons. “People were crazy about horses and many raised them. Rekla or bull cart race and pigeon racing were popular when I grew up in the area in the 1960s,” Hussaini recalled.
However, the face of the area has changed since then with many moving out for education and jobs, he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by J. Arockiaraj, TNN / April 27th, 2014
Fishermen from the coastal villages of Kanykumari district have returned to the shore to attend church services coinciding with the Holy Week. The ‘Village Way of the Cross’ ritual that is practiced in churches, has become even more popular during this Lenten season, in coastal villages.
The Holy Week celebrations of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter are important days for the predominantly Catholic fisher folk of these hamlets starting from Arockiapuram to Neerodi in the district. While the fishermen of the eastern coast stopped fishing on April 15 itself following the fishing ban period, the fishers of western coast have halted their fishing for a week to participate in the services held in their respective villages.
Most of the fishermen of the western coast are involved in deep sea fishing operating from the ports of Colachel, Kollam and Kochi and they started returning from Monday onwards. “We have instructed our fishermen to return to their villages within this week and all of them will be back by Thursday for Maundy Thursday service. Holy Week is very important for all our fishermen,” said L Wilfred, a fishermen leader from Colachel.
The ‘Village Way of the Cross’ has gained popularity in the coastal villages in recent years. Way of the Cross is the ritual where the passion of Jesus Christ is remembered in 14 stations starting from the death sentence to the burial of Christ. With most of the coastal villages nestled with each other and beautiful churches, the ‘Way of the Cross’ is taken about visiting seven nearby villages.
Explaining the practice, Fr M Stephen, parish priest of Kurumpanai fishing hamlet said that parishioners from one church will walk or travel to seven nearby churches with each church symbolising one station. “In both directions, visiting seven churches will make out 14 stations of the Way of the Cross. It has become a popular event in the coastal hamlets in the last few years,” he said. Almost all the parishes have organised such ritual this year which were completed last week itself, he mentioned.
A Lucas, a fisherman from Mullurthurai near Thengaipattinam said that the Village Way of the Cross is quite moving and helps them connect with the passion of the Christ. “We see to that we are together as family for the Holy Week and Village Way of the Cross is like a pilgrimage we take out to our neighbouring churches,” he said. “After Easter Sunday, the fishermen will start back to their fishing harbours at their convenience and fishing activities will resume,” Wilfred added.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / J. Arockiaraj, TNN / April 17th, 2014
A taste for community spirit: Saifuddin, the mithai wallah. / Photos: M. Periasamy / The Hindu
The Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community, originally from Gujarat, has made Coimbatore its own, yet it retains its distinctive cultural and culinary identity
Evening Namaz has just ended. Men in topis and flowing white kurtas emerge from the mosque. Women in colourful gowns zip through the lanes on their two wheelers. The smell of hot khakras wafts from the nearby sweet shop. Children returning from their evening Arabic and Quran classes, buy savouries from there and run home. The conversation one overhears in a language that sounds like a mix of Urdu, Gujarati and Persian. It is called Lisanud-Dawat. Sound of laughter comes out of a home. The Burhani colony of Coimbatore in Peelamedu wakes up to its night life.
“Many of us have settled here for generations since the time of our great grandfathers,” says Alifiya M Mamoowala who has volunteered to be my guide for the day. “There are around 392 families here. And, we have become a part of this city.”
Topis worn by Bohra men./ The Hindu
At the same time we hold onto our tradition,” adds Feroz Y Dak, as he leads me to the office of Aamil Saheb, the community’s religious and administrative head.Aamil Saheb hails from Madhya Pradesh and has been holding this office for the last two years. “The community settled in Coimbatore in the early 1930s. We originate from the Khambat district in Gujarat,” he explains. And they believe they must abide by the law of the land where they live, says Aamil. “I am learning Tamil. And, my children go to a Tamil medium school,” he smiles.
Next, I visit the burhani mithai stall, where Saifuddin Bhai Ahmedabadwala fries hot mathris. His shelves are laden with laarvas, a typical burhani laddoo made of besan and stuffed with raisins. His sweet puris drip sugar syrup and I am told they are a must during Shab-e-barat. But Saifuddin’s road to fame is his gulab jamuns, made with khoya. “Even the locals love it,” he says with pride.
I meet another Saifuddin who is head chef at the Community Food Hall. “I have worked across India I have learnt other recipes by working with the local chefs.” “At the Community Food Hall they prepare free dinners for all the houses in the colony. This is one way of making sure that the ladies of the community get some free time to do what they want,” says Feroz.
The food hall./ The Hindu
“Looks like it is biryani today,” says Feroz as we sniff appreciatively. Inside, there are huge davaras of chicken biryani. Hundreds of tiffin boxes are neatly arranged on the floor. They will be despatched along with rose lassi and raitha. “Each tiffin box carries a number allocated to a house. So, no one uses the vessel used by the others,” says Feroz. Residents can either collect their tiffin boxes at the hall or get them delivered at their door steps. As dusk falls, lights pop on in the kitchens. At Alifiya’s house, Gulshan Y Mamoowala has whipped up a grand meal. As soon as we enter, she welcomes us with a bowl of crystal sugar. “That’s the bohra custom of welcoming the guests with a sweet note,” says Yunus Bhai Mamoowala, her husband. Gulshan’s lemon yellow skirt and a blouse that she wears with a pretty shawl is called jori. “We wear these inside the house. The burqas are called ridas and are worn outside,” says Alifiya.
“Ridas and joris have become a big style statement,” adds Munira Gheewala, who has dropped in to apply mehendi on Alifiya’s daughter’s hands. “During weddings women wear ridas with zardozis and elaborate embroidery, floral panelling and tatting.” Bohra weddings are grand, says Munira. “We apply mehendi on the entire arm of the bride! Our designs are mostly Arabic motifs, featuring creepers and flowers.”
Conversation ceases as Gulshan brings the huge thaal and places it on a stool. The entire family sits around the thaal. “The whole point is to drive home the message of togetherness,” says Feroz. “This strengthens our bond.”
The first thing I am offered is a pinch of salt! “It opens your taste-buds,” says Gulshan. And in bohra cuisine, desserts come first, says Alifiya. Sodena (sweet rice and badam) and Shir khurma, (something like semiya payasam) kick start the fare. The main course has a shoulder of lamb hot from the tandoor, dal chawal palidu and rotis with khichda (haleem). “The signature dish in a burhani cusine is the simple dal, rice and palidu combination. Palidu is a little like rasam. It is cooked with tuvar dal stock, drum stick and regular spices,” explains Gulshan.
We round off the sumptuous meal with sweet paan. As we sit back on the cushions, Yunus shows me the pictures of their ancestral home at Sidhpur, Gujarat. Magnificent havelis, with a dozen windows, mark the bohra colony. “All the traders used to live here. Each house is built close to each other to create community spirit,” says Yunus. “Our family came to Coimbatore 25 years ago to set up business here. We still go back there once in a year,” says Yunus.
As I bid farewell to the Mamoowala family, Gulshan sprays attar on my hands and tells me to rub it on my clothes. “This is for you to always remember the beautiful memories of the evening you spent with us,” she says.
I smell my hand again and smile as the fragrance recreates in my mind the lanes of Sidhpur and its airy havelis.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Melanage / by Parshathy J. Nath / Coimbatore – April 25th, 2014
M. Ganapathy and Chitra Ganapathy at Kadambavanam./ Photo: S. James / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Chitra and M. Ganapathy’s resort Kadambavanam, near Madurai, has evolved into a hub of Tamil heritage
Projects do not drive the passion. It is the other way round where passions drive amazing projects. This is exactly what happened with architect M. Ganapathy and his cost accountant wife Chitra Ganapathy. They have given shape to a unique endogenous tourism model where people can experience traditional and true Tamil living.
Called Kadambavanam, the Temple of Tamil Traditions, the retreat is situated 22 kms from Madurai on the Natham Highway. It is a place where domestic and international tourists can soak in Tamil culture and the Tamil diaspora can reconnect with their roots. Kadambavanam, according to legend, once covered the entire Madura region before giving way to the ancient city of Madurai.
Chitra and Ganapathy come from conservative backgrounds and have a very traditional upbringing. Chitra’s father, Dr.Nambi Arooran, was the grandson of the great Tamil Scholar Maraimalai Adigal considered the ‘Father of the pure Tamil movement’. Her mother Dr.Sarada Nambi Arooran, is a renowned Tamil scholar too. Ganapathy’s maternal grandfather Shri.S.S. Subbiah Pillai was instrumental in consecrating “Pazha muthir solai”, the sixth holy abode of Lord Muruga in Madurai.
More than a decade ago Ganapathy bought 22 acres of land nestling between the Sirumalai and Alagarmalai range. It was a green carpet stretched to the horizon, scalloped by wild fields and hills and strangely calm. “I instantly knew I had to do something different here,” says Ganapathy. But at best the couple could only think of building a weekend retreat cottage for the family. But soon one thing led to another and ideas began to take shape in their heads.
Both Chitra and Ganapathy feel very strongly about the culturally rich Tamil heritage. So they thought they would do something to nourish that. “Initially we were hesitant,” says Chitra, “because neither of us is from the tourism industry and nor are we rich.” But despite the hurdles, they decided they would establish a kind of cultural prototype in Tamil Nadu.
Tourists rarely gain any insight into Tamil traditions when they come on a temple-hopping visit to the State, they say and people do not realise the value and privilege of being a Tamilian. For three years the couple toyed with the idea of how to revive, preserve and showcase Tamil culture.
Initially the small weekend cottage would be lent to friends. But then Ganapathy decided to build some more. Gradually, the idea of an ethnic resort was born and 15 cottages were built surrounded by mango, coconut, tamarind and 40 other varieties of trees.
While Ganapathy focussed on landscaping and designing the property, Chitra launched herself into marketing. “But the response was lukewarm,” she says. They spent lot of money attending travel marts and networking with travel agents but it did not fetch the desired results. “That is when we realised the need for some value-addition,” says Chitra. The idea of a cultural centre emerged because an important part of the Tamilian way of living is their performing arts. The couple thought of Kadambavanam as a place where forgotten traditions could be revitalised. Says Ganapathy, “This project was never meant to be commercial, What is important to us is to rediscover the treasures of our culture.”
Today, Kadambavanam serves up eco, rural, culinary and spiritual tourism, arts and crafts and native history and literature to its guests. “We are not here just for show. We have built an ambience that takes guests back in time,” says Ganapathy. “They hear lots of stories that generate interest in exploring further. It is an end-to-end package packed with lots of activities, stories and cultural programmes,” he adds.
Chitra and Ganapathy are also involving the local community in their social entrepreneurship model. “The feedback is good now,” they say, “We feel happy that we are being talked about in wider circles.”
What kadambavanam offers:
Visitors to Kadambavanam are welcomed at the entrance by a huge statue of the village guardian Lord Aiyanar riding a white horse. Every door step is decorated with kolam.
The cultural centre is a twin campus with a picturesque 500 seater auditorium, an elaborate temple complex, games pavilion, puppetry theatre and an ethnic Tamil kitchen. Regular cultural shows of classical and folk arts of Tamil Nadu are held in the evenings followed by a sumptuous Tamil ethnic dinner. The aesthetic architecture has a rustic charm stamped on it.
Dance and music programmes begin with the beating of the traditional murasu (an ancient drum used to call the attention of people to important announcements). There are different shows each day from Bharatanatyam to Carnatic music, Tamil martial arts, rustic puppetry shows, killijyotishyam and traditional games such as kittipul, pandi (hopscotch), golli gundu (marbles), and pallankuzhi.
Guests can do yoga and meditation, undertake village and nature walks, hill trekking and bicycle trips. Visit jasmine farms or stay put for cookery demos.
The ethnic resort has 15 air conditioned cottages that combine rustic charm with all modern comforts; ‘ Adisil’ ,a 120 seater semi-open, multi-level eatery at an elevation of 100 feet offers a fabulous view of the surroundings; Madhuvanam’ ,the bar ; ’Peravai’ , the banquet hall with a theatre style seating capacity of 110 persons ; ‘Sittravai’ , the board room with a seating capacity of 45 persons; ‘Vetaveli’ , the maidan that can host up to 2,000 guests; ‘Pulveli’ ,a scenic lawn that can cater to around 300 guests and; ‘Thadagam’, the State’s third largest swimming pool spread over 8,500 sq.ft.
Is catching up as a fancy destination for weddings, receptions and film shooting and also corporate meetings and school camps.
Future vision of Kadambavanam:
– Nature cure spa offering detox therapies and rejuvenation packages.
– Library with a large and good collection of books appealing to all age groups
– Audio visual hall for screening select Tamil movies
– Arts school offering ‘crash courses’ on classical and folk arts and crash courses in Tamil language.
– Crafts bazaar where artisans will make and sell their wares directly
– ‘Living museum’ showcasing many interesting aspects of a bygone lifestyle
– Fifteen more air conditioned cottages coming up
What they say:
“We based our project on statistics and are hopeful. If 60 per cent of FTAs come to Kadambavanam, it will ensure the project’s survival.” – Chitra
“People just don’t come and get inside the air conditioned comforts of a building here. Rather they hear stories, see beyond and understand.” – M. Ganapathy
source: http://www.thehindu.com / Th Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Soma Basu / Madurai – April 24th, 2014
The Ragasudha hall in Mylapore was packed for the launch of one of Lakshmi Devnath’s books from her Pictures of Melody series. The series, a collection of pictorial biographies of iconic Carnatic legends, looks to popularise the age-old music tradition among the young. Maharaja Swati Tirunal, the celebrated composer and king of Travancore, is the subject of Ms. Devnath’s new book. The event also saw the release of the Tamil translation of her book on M.S. Subhalakshmi, kick-starting the vernacular series.
Ms. Devnath’s series, under the title of Graphically Carnatic, looks to change the perception of aged connoisseurs being the sole patrons of Carnatic music. Publishing these books was an attempt to mobilise young children to lay claim to their own artistic heritage, she said. “Biographies are the most important link to the past. These books are not a mere narration of a list of achievements of different artistes but a retelling of their emotional journeys,” she added.
The books use the visually dynamic format of the graphic novel to narrate stories. The detailed illustrations, interspersed with real photographs, make it especially attractive for young readers. While the books do not appear to be dense, their content reveals thorough research. Striking this balance was a challenge acknowledged the author. The books aims to educate, but by nurturing engaged reading by youngsters.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – April 13th, 2014
Ganesan and Iris sang Varuthu Varuthu in the third round of Superstar Challenge 2014. Read more: Surprise win at Tamil singing contest – Sunday Life & Times – New Straits Times
Ganesan Manoharan and Iris Perrine shine in Superstar Challenge 2014, writes Faisal Asyraf
IN a singing competition, there’s no guarantee of coming up tops even if you’re praised by the judges. Malaysian duo Ganesan Manoharan and Iris Perrine received back-to-back praises only to come in third at the recent Superstar Challenge 2014 international Tamil singing competition.
First runner-up was Singaporean duo Vishnu Balaji and Pavithra Nair, while Aravind Sandhya and Abilasha Venkata Chellum from India, won the grand prize of S$20,000 (RM50,780).
Second and third place prizes were S$5,000 and S$3,000 respectively.
In its second year, the competition saw participation from Malaysia, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka and Canada and was broadcast live on Vasantham Central Singapore and Vasantham TV Sri Lanka.
Last year, Malaysian duo Santhesh Kumar and Charumathy Savaratnam won the championship title, so there were high expectations for Ganesan and Iris to repeat the success.
Prior to the competition held in MediaCorp TV Theatre, Caldecott Broadcast Centre Singapore, the bubbly Iris said: “We have been practising five to eight hours daily for six weeks. We are ready to rock!”
Well, they did rock with commendable performances in all three rounds — fast beat, acoustic and a 1980s song.
In the first round, Singaporean judge Mohammed Rafee said “while I had a lot to jot down on paper about the other contestants, there’s nothing for me to write about your performance. It was perfect”, referring to their performance of Jingunamani.
“You enjoyed yourselves on stage, and you made the audience happy. This is what entertainment is all about,” added the judge who worked with renowned Indian composer A.R. Rahman on the song Sonatai Seitu Mudipom.
Mohammed Rafee added that Iris had a total package to make it in the entertainment scene, including strong vocals and the magnetism to attract the crowd.
Iris had participated in other talent competitions such as Asia Bagus (1994) and Vaanavil Superstar (2009) and she came in first runner-up.
Other judges include Praba Balakrishnan (Canada), Sivaguru Sithambaram (Malaysia), Harish Raghavendra (India) and M. Mohanraj (Sri Lanka).
When the Singaporean co-hosts Jaya Ganesh and Eswary Gunasagar announced the fifth and fourth place winners, the audience had anticipated Sri Lanka and Canada respectively.
“Who’s the second runner up?” asked Jaynesh. Some in the audience shouted India and Singapore. So, when the result was announced, it caught everyone by surprise.
The champions, Aravind and Abilasha, possessed excellent vocal skills, despite a lack of showmanship. They performed Katcheri-Katcheri and Ahruhive-Ahruhive in the first and second round, respectively.
After their performance of Enn Jodi Manja Kuruvi in the third round, judge Mohammed Rafee said: “If there was a solo category in this competition, Abilasha would undoubtedly win. Aravind should thank Abilasha because she is the anchor of this performance.”
Abilasha, in her 20s, has been singing professionally for six years. She won the singing competition Zee Saregamara (Hindi version) in 2010. Aravind won with Zee Saregamara (Tamil version) in 2012, back in India.
The duo had only three days to practice before Superstar Challenge 2014.
Other competitors who wowed the audience were Vishnu Balaji and Pavithra from Singapore. In the third round, they put on an entertaining gimmick by wearing afro wigs, as they belted out Onnum Teriyate.
Meanwhile, this is not the end for Ganesan and Iris.
“We know we have put on a good show, but Lady Luck was not on our side this time. I believe in my talent, and I hope to clinch a recording offer,” says Iris. Ganesan says he will be participating in more singing competitions.
Watch the show on Astro Vinmeen HD (Ch 231) today at 6pm, in conjunction with Chithirai Puthandu.
source: http://www.nst.com.my / New Straits Times / Home> Sunday Life & Times / by Faisal Asyarf (faisal.asyraf@nst.com.my) / April 13th, 2014
A girl performing at the Tamil New Year celebrations at Tamil Kalai Mandram in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. / The Hindu
A cultural feast marks the celebrations of Tamil New Year. More than 300 Tamilians turned up for the event which was attended by R. Sampath, retired senior journalist of The Hindu as chief guest.
On Sunday, dance and music marked the celebrations of Tamil New Year, which began a day in advance for Tamilians at Tamil Kalai Mandram (TMK).
The venue treated the audience to a cultural feast that lasted for a couple of hours. While Shailu Nandini Priya was seen dancing to glory to some of the semi-classical songs, Nikitha performed Bharatanatyam with ‘Natrajar anjali’ as her theme.
As part of the celebrations, Divakar, one of the committee members, spoke on the year-long activities of the TMK and its upcoming events. Water Management Department Assistant General Manager of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Ayya Durai along with her daughter Manisha enhanced the celebration mood by regaling the viewers with some of the regional film songs.
More than 300 Tamilians turned up for the event which was attended by R. Sampath, retired senior journalist of The Hindu as chief guest. The evening offered perfect ambience for the people who greeted each other ‘Puthandu nal vazhthukkal’ (New Year wishes) and made merry.
The mandram also conducted a general body meeting where new committee members – Seeralan as president, Raja Shekar (vice-president), Perumal (secretary), T. Vijay Kumar (joint secretary) and P.M. Saravanan as treasurer have been elected.. Later, the celebrations concluded with community dinner.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Staff Reporter / Visakhapatnam – April 13th, 2014
Thousands of faithful from across the country gathered today at Shrine Basillica in Vailankanni, the 17th century Christian shrine in Nagapattinam district in connection with the ‘Palm Sunday’ procession, which marks the beginning of the week long Easter celebrations.
To mark the occasion, a colourful ‘Palm Sunday’ procession was taken out after special prayers with the priests and participants carrying crosses made of palm leaves.
Pilgrims from all over the state travelling for days on foot will visit the shrine and participate in many events taking place throughout the week.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> PTI Stories> National> News / Press Trust of India / Nagapattinam (TN) – April 13th, 2014
Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation – Fri, 11 Apr 2014
By Nita Bhalla
An Essmart Global representative trains a village shopkeeper on technology products that are helping improve life for poor rural communities and small scale-farmers in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India./ Photo taken by Essmart Global in 2012
Mumbai , India, April 11 (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
A start-up Indian social enterprise has come up with an innovative solution to one of the country’s biggest development challenges – helping the rural poor easily access basics such as clean drinking water and electricity.
Essmart Global is bringing affordable products such as solar lanterns, rechargeable batteries and water filters to the doorsteps of mud-and-brick villages through a unique partnership with shopkeepers in south India.
“We bring different technologies that are appropriate to rural areas to existing market places such as rural ‘kiranas” or ‘mom-and-pop stores’, and make these products available through a catalogue,” said Prashanth Venkataramana, Essmart’s head of operations in India.
“Customers will have access to the products they want and get them delivered within a day, without having to travel to the cities and towns where these products are generally only available.”
Venkataramana was speaking on the sidelines of the Sankalp Unconvention Summit in Mumbai, where hundreds of social enterprises from around the world have gathered to showcase their ideas for development.
The three-day conference has seen social entrepreneurs pitching products such as solar lanterns, clean cooking stoves, and irrigation tools which use less water or agriculture instruments which make processing crops more efficient.
India has witnessed stellar economic growth over the last two decades, yet one third of the country’s 1.2 billion population still lives below the poverty line.
Seventy million households – 35-40 percent of the country’s 1.2 billion people – have no access to electricity, while 100 million do not have access to clean drinking water.
But while there are thousands of products which can help address these issues, most are not easily available to the rural poor – largely because village retailers cannot afford to buy in bulk, a key requirement for manufacturers.
GOING THE LAST MILE
Essmart Global, in essence, acts as a distributor and buys products in bulk, which are stored in local warehouses. When a customer orders a product from the catalogue in his village store, it is dispatched and delivered to the shop the next day.
“We provide any product which can improve the quality of life of people living in rural areas. These are products such as solar lanterns, water filters, tablet computers, rechargeable batteries and rechargeable flashlights,” he told Thomson Reuters Foundation.
“There are also products which can help them in their occupations such as agricultural equipment, little gadgets that can work on their farms or fields.”
The social enterprise, which began operations in August 2012, provides 45 products to 400 village stores in the west of Tamil Nadu state and works with around 20 large and small manufacturers.
The company has sold some 2,200 products so far, with the most popular being solar lanterns which sell for around 1,400 rupees ($23).
For more expensive products, such as a solar-powered water pumps for irrigation, Essmart helps customers arrange a line of credit with the manufacturer or through a microfinance company. All products come with a warranty.
Venkataramana said one of the most exciting outcomes is not just that the business helps rural customers, but that it also benefits villager retailers.
“These rural shops generally only sell fast-moving consumer goods such as shampoos, soaps, toothpaste etc which they make little (profit) on,” he said.
“What we are getting the shopkeeper to do is sell technology products which he wouldn’t normally sell and helping him increase his margins. In fact, stores which have worked with us, have seen a 30 percent increase in their monthly income by selling products from Essmart.”
source: http://www.trust.org / Thomson Reuters Foundation / by Nita Bhalla / Friday, April 11th, 2014
Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL), announced that its all-women Coimbatore plant has bagged a prestigious award by the Limca Book of Records for its project ‘Mahila Mission 20’. The project has achieved a milestone of assembling a pump in 17.25 seconds, making it a national record, stated a company release.
The silver jubilee of the Limca Book of Records dedicated to the cause of Empowering Women honoured Dr.RV.Rajkumar with the recognition on behalf of the entire female workforce of Kirloskar Brother s Limited ,Coimbatore plant. The award was offered in the presence of numerous dignitaries, leaders, decision makers and bureaucrats from various participating companies.
Sanjay Kirloskar , Chairman and Managing Director of Kirloskar Brothers said, “It is a proud moment for us to be recognised for our accomplishment towards women empowerment. Our all-women Coimbatore plant has received many significant awards and this recognition further reaffirms the abilities of our female employee’s.”
He further added, “With the dedication of our associates, we have successfully reduced the assembly time from 60 seconds to a record breaking 20 seconds; thereby increasing the plant production to 34000 pumps per line per month. I am extremely overwhelmed to have such a committed women workforce that settles for nothing but the best.”
KBL’s all women Coimbatore plant was established in 2011. The plant manufactures different models of domestic pumps and has 65 women between the age group of 19 to 30 employed on the shop floor. KBL is the only engineering company in India which operates with 100% female associates in the manufacturing process, stated the release.
source: http://www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home> News> News By Company> Corporate Announcements / by Jayashree Bhosale, ET Bureau / April 11th, 2014
