FAIR TRADE DAY (2004-05)

K. Jayakumar IAS, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Culture inaugurating the event

Fair Trade Fortnight

A series of public functions, cultural programmes and artisans' meets were organized by Fair Trade Forum India from 14th May, the World Fair Trade Day to 28th May 2005, in partnership with Oxfam (India) Trust, as part of Fair Trade Fortnight Celebrations, in all the four fair trade regions of India. The Fortnight was highly successful in publicizing the fair trade concept and standards to people from different walks of life. The programmes organized as part of the Fortnight highlighted the achievements of fair trade as the successful alternative in providing sustainable market linkage to excluded grassroots producers and artisans. The public functions and variety of cultural programmes helped to congregate representatives from government, international development agencies, facilitating organizations, NGOs, grassroots level producer groups, art curios and media under one roof to deliberate about the concept of fair trade.

On 14th May, the World Fair Day, the programmes organized at Kolkata and Mumbai marked the beginning of the fortnight and it was concluded with a gala cultural event orgnaised at New Delhi on May 28th, after a concluding session organized at Chennai on May 27th.

“Fair Trade is Peace' was the theme for this year's World Fair Trade Day.

Northern region

A Cultural evening and public function was organized on May 28th on conclusion of Fair Trade Fortnight, 2005 at Dilli Haat, New Delhi. Tara projects hosted the programme along with FTF-I. Shri. K. Jayakumar IAS, Joint Secretary, Department of Culture, Government of India, was the chief guest. Prof. Shyam S. Sharma, President of FTF-I chaired the public function. A message received from Hon'ble Minister of State for Planning was read out in the ceremony.

“Make Trade Fair,” Oxfam signature campaign organized along with the concluding programme at Dilli Haat attracted large number youth and many of them expressed willingness to join fair trade campaigns as volunteers.

Eminent Kathak exponent Padma Shri Guru Shovana Narayan & group presented two items “Jago Durga” and “Yashodhara”, which portrays women as the symbol of courage and sacrifice. Ruby Mishra troupe, disciples of Guru Birju Maharaj presented “Ardhanarishwar” another item based on the concept of women's empowerment. It was followed by Punjabi, Rajasthani and Gujarati folk performances and music. The programme was concluded with a delicious Rajasthani dinner, enjoyed by about five hundred people.

The other dignitaries who attended the concluding ceremony include Dr. Lalit Kumar, Deputy Advisor, Planning Commission, Pandit Sajan Mishra, eminent Hindustani Musician, Dr. R. K. Patra, Officer-in-Chief, Directorate of Family Welfare, NCT of Delhi, Kuldeep Singh, Director, Land & Slums, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Mr. Surya Narayan, Deputy Director-Vigilence, Office of Development Commissioner of Handicrafts, Mr. Robin Koshy, Centre for Trade & Development, supported by Oxfam (India) Trust.

More than 1000 people including artisans working with fair trade organizations from Delhi, UP and Haryana participated in the ceremony.

Eastern Region

At Kolkata, a public function and cultural evening was organized on May 14th 2005, marking the beginning of the Fair Trade Fortnight. Sasha, Silence, SKVIS, CSWS, Ushagram and MKS, member organizations of FTF-I, hosted the programme jointly. Mr. Sanjiv Nandwani (Executive Director CAPEXIL) inaugurated the programme. Dr. Ranjan Mitter, Professor, IIM was the chief guest. Shri Prakriti Roy, founder of SKVIS was the guest of honour. Eminent theater artist Usha Ganguly performed thematic play. It was followed by a fair trade fashion show, which displayed the works of artisans from Fair Trade organizations of eastern region. Mrs. Mitali Sinha of Ananda Shankar Centre for Performing Arts choreographed the show. There were cultural programmes presented by Sasha, MKS and Silence based on the theme of World Fair Trade Day 2005. Ms. Roopa Mehta, Secretary, FTF-I and Mr. Chanchal Sengupta, Associate Secretary led the celebrations. Fair trade groups like Ankur Kala and EMA also participated in the programme. A display of products was also organised as part of the celebrations. All the members and the entire audience paid their homage to late Subhashini Kohli-one of the founders of Sasha & FTF-I, before the inauguration of the programme.

Western region

At Mumbai, the World Fair Day was celebrated on 14th May 2005, by conferring awards for following fair Trade practices with excellence to six upcoming and socially committed artisans/ producers/ facilitators at a public function hosted by Asha Handicrafts Association. Dr. Abraham Mathai, Chairman, State Minorities Commission, Government of Maharashtra was the chief guest. Mr. Subash Gogia, Secretary, Council of Fair Business Practices, spoke on the concept of fair trade. Cultural programmes including orchestra and folk dances followed the public function. Shri. Lucas Caldeira, Treasurer, FTF-I lead the World Fair Trade Day celebrations held at Mumbai.

The list of awardees follows as under:-

1. Mr. Barkat Ali from Mugloo- for Communication.

2. Mr. Ashraf Qureshi from Master Handicrafts for Excellent Packing.

3. Mr. Satish from Shubham- for Good Quality.

4. Mr. Rafiq Ahmed for Timely Delivery.

5. Ms. Bharati Jadhav From OBF for Outstanding Service.

6. Mrs.Sitamma Naikodi From Creative Handicrafts- for Outstanding Service.

Southern region

A day-long programme was organized at Chennai on 27th May 2005, covering presentations, display of crafts, cultural programme and interactive sessions. Prof. Shyam S. Sharma, President of the Forum was the chief guest of the programme. Mr. K. Panchaksharam, Vice President, Fair Trade Forum India and Dr. Pothi Reddy, President SIPA, lead the celebrations. About 500 people including artisans, development workers, journalists and fair trade activists participated in the programme.

SIPA producers' groups presented folk songs and music, which was pregneted with fair trade theme, successfully covering through local languages the children's and women's plights & rights in trade. Highlight of the programme was that the groups of producers from different organisations successfully projected one fair trade standard each group, through their folk songs, music and other skills.

The two hundred strong participants felt the need of a quality-testing infrastructure for graduating the fair trade producers towards using a fair trade label.

During interaction with the President the congregation also felt the need of a fixed World Fair Trade Day all over the world, not in such hostile season of the years as the months of May and June.