Page 179 - SocialHarmony

From the Market to the Heart 183

people. They are forbidden to enter the market/business if the
NGOs don’t get anything out of it. But it would be a matter of
immense pleasure if we manage to convey this message to every
single worker in the remotest areas. We want to support them
to grow their businesses. It is our mission to develop the
deprived and the lower class of the society. Let us give these
artists something constructive. This is a direct program, entirely
without middlemen. We want to provide a direct help to the
women artists living below the poverty line.

The government bears the transport expenses to bring the
workers to the Gram Haat. The government also arranges for
their accommodation and food. We want to make the people
below the poverty line earn their living on their own. They
should not depend on others. If they have the talent, all they
need is the market. Their products will certainly sell in the
market. We wish to convey this to every artist in the villages.
We do not want to restrict ourselves to Surat or Baroda. We
want to start these Haats in every district, on petrol pumps,
and on highways. We plan to start these Haats in the places of
pilgrimage like Somnath, Daakor, and Ambaji. We want to start
a market chain, where such products get good exposure. We
can always take help of advanced technology to increase the
production if they get a market. Currently, the artists do not
use technology because it takes two years to sell things that take
six months to make. The artists would be encouraged to work
more if they sell more. They would want to use the advanced
technology if there is demand for their products. The State
Government is not going to stop just by launching the Haats.
We are going to start the whole trade circle where the products
made by these villagers are explored; they become a part of the
organized business and get financial help. The artists will get
access to the world market through websites. We have tried to
make the business plan for the same. At present, in India even
the big industrialists are not able to have their markets online.
We want to make this possible for the rural businessmen. I
appeal that everyone should visit this market. Even if you do
not want to buy anything, you can do window shopping, talk