Gramayan Expo: Exhibition or an Open University’s Reach out?
High on the awareness quotient, exhibitions like Gramayan Seva Pradarshani ought to be held in every city!
Exhibitions often showcase harmful products that affect us and the environment around us. Yet, through aggressive marketing tactics by the big companies or the multi-nationals, these have occupied everyspace around, while the more important factors like the actual interests of the consumers, their health, the climate, the ecology & environment, the science behind many of the Indian traditions and the interests of the rural & tribal people are all left ignored. Here we discuss an initiative that not only cuts the marketing clutter to focus on the real issues and innovative, earth friendly products, but also displays the keenness to spread awareness about them.
Actively promoting degradable items that support nature and us, rather than only plain hollow words, this is one exhibition that stands apart with a huge difference.
The people at these stalls come out not as usual aggressive sellers keen to earn profits but as friendly people who are more keen to attend to your curiosity and share knowledge that bears potential to change your outlook.
Visitors were treated to a range of stalls that addressed topics like climate change, sustainable living, environment and health, not superficially mentioned for the sake of appearing trendy but keenly addressed as well! Here’re a few glimpses. How would you differentiate between a handmade organic earthenware and a die cast earthenware that were readied in a matter of minutes using hazardous chemicals? One of the stall owners tells you that if the inside surface is rough, chances are it is painstakingly handmade.
An environment friendly solar lamp worth rupees 300 can not only add to the interior or exterior decoration value but also can save you thousands on electricity cost. Several other solar items
contribute to the general awareness and inspire, like rooftop solar energy panels for electricity generation. Here, you get the precise information on the subsidy you get, how to install, what documents to submit etc.
Stunningly beautiful eco friendly bamboo articles like tooth brush, fancy ornaments, series of small lamp covers take you to another world, literally. Immunity booster turmeric candy, pure organic granulated sugar, Saindhava salt, Tulsi extract, Gau-mutra extract,
herbal pest control, medicines from locally grown herbal medicinal plants, oilless pickles, all sorts of millets that don’t require much irrigation to grow and the wide range of delicacies they offer.. a seemingly endless list of education and awareness that is hard to find in the traditional markets of the outer world form most of the unique Gramayan identity.
The Gramayan Seva Pradarshani also organizes quiz contests on unique topics with well researched questions to add to your knowledge. 2023 being the year of millets, they organized a quiz contest for school kids on various types of millets, the benefits they offer and the delicacies that can be created. Best participants were honored and given prizes.
At Gramayan Seva Pradarshani, you not only get to hear the words Recycle and Reuse, but you also get to see and experience the reply to the most important question, How? For example, how you may put your creative cells to use and prepare fancy items and statues etc. using items from used keyboards and PCs.
