Love to wear a handloom saree with a beautiful tribal choker? Or is a bag fashioned with traditional regional motifs more your thing? These and more are available at ‘Bengaluru Santhe’, situated below Swami Vivekananda Metro Station, near Old Madras Road.
It was inaugurated on May 8 by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) in an attempt to promote self-employment among artisans by providing them a permanent platform to exhibit their works.
The variety of products on sale here spans traditional attire, handmade jewellery and regional food products.
Not just the merchandise, even the design of the Santhe reflects a rural environment. Each stall replicates rural architectural styles of thotti mane (tank house) and katte mane (log house) prevalent in north Karnataka.
Unfortunately, many pass by the Santhe, unaware that it even exists. Artisans who have set shops here say that very few people visit the Santhe and most often customers are missing entirely.
“We have been sitting idle, waiting for people to come,” says a stall owner. He opines that lack of publicity is the culprit. “Even though Prabakara Rao (chief executive officer, BMRCL) has been helping us with advice and supervision, publicity is urgently required,” he adds.
Artisans pays `100 to 400 a day, depending on stall size, to be part of Bengaluru Santhe. Five per cent of their revenue is shared with BMRCL.
“We had a few visitors say there is no parking space which is the main reason for not stopping by, but for those who are unaware there is a two-acre parking lot right next to the Santhe. We have ample variety of hand-made products and home-made food. Only thing letting us down is awareness and lack of publicity,” says Prabakara Rao.