Two-day Gandhi Santhe draws good response at Heggodu

The two-day Gandhi Santhe was organized by Charaka, a women's industrial cooperative society, at its work center, Shramajeevi Ashrama, over the weekend. The event drew a significant response from visitors who traveled from Shivamogga, Bengaluru, Mysuru, and rural areas within Sagara taluk to inspect stalls showcasing handloom and other village industry products. The event was part of Charaka's Gandhi Pravasa, a sustainable tourism initiative.

On Saturday, Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra inaugurated the event. He emphasized that supporting rural-based industry would benefit local people and prevent migration to large cities. Furthermore, Charaka's approach was environmentally friendly and assisted marginalized sections of society.

Prasanna, a renowned theatre personality and founder of Charaka, explained that the primary goal of the Gandhi Santhe was to make high-quality rural products available to consumers and wholesale buyers. He noted that villagers often struggle to convince city dwellers of the authenticity of their products, such as oil and cloth. By bringing consumers, designers, and entrepreneurs from big cities to the village, Charaka aimed to facilitate direct interaction and authenticate the production process.

Another key objective of the event was to ensure that artisans earn a minimum of ₹800 to ₹900 per day. This would incentivize young people to return to rural industries and contribute to a more sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle. The inauguration day also marked the laying of the foundation stone for a new museum building on the Charaka campus. Charaka Society president Mahalakshmi, CEO Terrence Peter, and other officials were present at the event, demonstrating widespread support for the initiative.