An 81-year-old artisan Rotta Ramana was keen on completing the task he had left undone. He picks up an unfinished bamboo basket and tries to complete weaving it in just 15 minutes. “The little one needs less than 15 minutes and the bigger basket requires 30 minutes,” he says.
An elderly woman sitting next to him assists Mr. Ramana in wrapping up the day’s work. Twenty years ago, Gandhi Nagar, near Kancharapalem flyover, used to bustle with activity as there were more weavers to cater to the bulk orders of bamboo-based products that pour in from wholesale markets. “However, with changing times, the orders for bamboo products have gradually come down. As a result, many left the profession because it is not financially viable,” Mr. Ramana says.
Gandhi Nagar is a place where one can find a number of basket weavers and bamboo product makers. As one enters the sloppy lane that leads to the neighbourhood, several people come forward to share their woes. “Municipal water supply only lasts for a few minutes a day. Water scarcity is one of the major problems we continue to grapple with, especially during summer. A new borewell would go a long way in solving our water woes,” says O. Aruna, resident.
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Residents of Gandhi Nagar have to keep their doors and windows shut as the open drains running alongside the lanes emanate foul smell. “We have to sprinkle bleaching powder near the drainage channels to prevent mosquito breeding. Along with mosquitoes, bandicoots also find their way into our home if we leave the doors open,” says S. Jagadeeswari, another resident.
According to S. Narayanamma, homemaker residing in the colony, the economic condition of several residents would be much better if they are trained in soft skills such as sewing.
Zone IV Commissioner: S. Ramana Murthy; Helpdesk No: 0891-2711480; Mobile No: 9705086888.
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