In today’s hi-tech world, everybody is yearning for articles which are foreign-made and Indian-made goods are gradually vanishing which have been discouraging the Indian made goods. Be it non expensive items such as tooth brushes, tooth pastes, soaps to expensive items such as television, refrigerators, tape recorders and others, Indian made goods are considered inferior to foreign made goods though we have good number of Indian made articles being manufactured effectively. Due to all these,  our economy is also effected, not to speak the cottage and other rural based industries too.

Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi who had foreseen all such problems, had encouraged country made goods.
But unfortunately, the younger generation who are influenced by the foreign made articles have been refusing the swadesi items, which says that there is a great threat to those who are unemployed who are already been facing the heat of the situation.

161st Mela

However, many organisations have been creating awareness among the youth to encourage country made products. One such organisation is the Indian Marketing Development Centre which has been working towards the issue since ten years. To achieve the purpose, it has been organising melas all over the country.  Till now, the centre has organised 160 melas, wherein 8,500 manufacturing companies had took part and more than 6 crore people have participated.

Now the centre is all set to organise the 161st mela  in the city which will kickstart from April 1 and go on till April 7 at Basaveshwara School grounds. Preparations are in full swing for the event to take place for the week long event.

Speciality

This is the 7th mela which will be held in the State, says State co-ordinating Secretary of Swadeshi Awareness platform Mr Jagadish. And what is so special about the mela? It encourages only the country made products to participate in the mela and more than 100 companies from all over the country are expected to participate.

Jute manufacturing companies from Kolkata, garment companies from Gujarat, khadi manufacturers from the State, paper bag manufacturing companies, ayurveda medicine manufacturing shops, Banks, Kashmir cottage industries, educational institutions, women self help groups, solar companies and others will take part.

Food fest

Also Food fest has been organised in which Indian cuisines will be served, said welcome committee president N S Jayakumar.

Those women who attend the mela dressed in swadesi sarees, displaying our unique culture will be given prize coupons everyday. Finally the winners will be announced through lucky dip, said Umesh of the centre.  Entry fee is free and those who companies which are interested in participating can call 990145880 or 9740771299, said the co-ordinators.