Gandhi Santhe showcases rural products in Shivamogga district
A two-day Gandhi Santhe in Heggodu, organised by the women’s cooperative Charaka, attracted visitors from several Karnataka cities and villages. The event displayed handloom and village-industry products, promoted rural livelihoods and sustainable tourism, and included the laying of a foundation stone for a museum on the Shramajeevi Ashrama campus.
A two-day Gandhi Santhe organised by Charaka, a women’s industrial cooperative society, attracted visitors to its work centre at Shramajeevi Ashrama in Heggodu, Shivamogga district. The event, held on Saturday and Sunday, drew people from Shivamogga, Bengaluru, Mysuru and villages across Sagara taluk. Visitors explored stalls displaying handloom and other village-industry products.
The fair formed part of Charaka’s Gandhi Pravasa, described as a sustainable tourism initiative. Alongside Charaka’s products, stalls featured handmade goods from Haveri, Dharwad, Mandya and other districts. Shivamogga MP B.Y.
Raghavendra inaugurated the event. He said support for rural industries could help local people find work in their communities and reduce migration to major cities. Raghavendra also described Charaka’s model as environment-friendly and said it supported disadvantaged sections of society.
Charaka founder and theatre personality Prasanna said the event was intended to make quality rural products accessible to consumers and wholesale buyers. He said bringing consumers, designers and entrepreneurs to the production site could help them examine how the goods were made. Prasanna said another objective was to ensure that artisans earned between ₹800 and ₹900 a day where they lived.
He linked that income goal to encouraging young people to return to the sector and supporting a simpler way of life. A foundation stone was also laid for a new museum on the campus. The event was organised with the Kavi-Kavya Trust, Desi Trust, Jeevanmukhi and the Department of Tourism.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.