‘Promote eco-friendly products for healthy environment’

Artisans display cane, bamboo, wood carvings and khadi products at ‘Purbashree’. Exhibition in-charge R. Padma said the crafts festival would be on till January 5, and that artisans would give a live demo on the making of certain handicraft products.

Artisans from Tripura, Meghalaya and other States of North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited presenting a demo on manufacturing cane products at the handicrafts exhibition in Vijayawada on Friday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Regional Fire Officer (Eastern Region) D. Murali Mohan has called on the public to promote jute, wood, paper and other eco-friendly products to ensure ecological balance.

Mr. Mohan, along with Krishna District Fire Officer Mr. V. Srinivas and North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited Deputy Manager B.K. Dey, inaugurated the handicrafts exhibition-cum-sale, ‘Purbashree’, at Sri Vidya Sadan, near Maris Stella College on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mohan said people should stop using plastic material and promote recyclable and handicraft products to encourage artisans. Expressing concern over the increased use of polythene and plastic materials, he said they might cause dreadful diseases.

Mr. Srinivas said wooden carvings, bamboo and cane decorative materials, jute bags and wall hangings, woollen carpets, Manipuri silks and Khadi materials, household materials made of wood and cane laid bare the talent of artisans from the eastern States.

Mr. Dey said artisans from Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Meghalaya had set up nearly 50 stalls for the exhibition. He added that 10 per cent discount would be offered on all handicraft materials, besides 20 per cent off on handloom products.

Exhibition in-charge R. Padma said the crafts festival would be on till January 5, and that artisans would give a live demo on the making of certain handicraft products.