Deepavali, time to care and a season to share

It is also the season of gifting and a few NGOs are buying the products made by the under-privileged, and using them to create novel gift hampers for corporate and other high-end customers. “To empower women, we run projects such as Navjeevan and Sahodari. The products made by the women who are a part of these schemes are bought by many of our members, to be distributed as gifts,” says Sharmila Moses, immediate past president of Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Madras. 

The women involved in the Navjeevan project of the YWCA are major contributors to the Deepavali hampers, says Sharmila. Navajeevan is a unique project offering temporary shelter to  women who have recovered from mental illness. The residents are offered occupational therapy and taught to make juices, pickles, jute bags, gift bags, gift wraps, artificial flowers etc. “This keeps them occupied and also gives them financial independence,” says Sharmila. “Almost all the YWCA members have purchased the gift hampers from them this season and this helps us sustain the project and the money goes back to the beneficiaries,” says Sharmila. Members of the Sahodari project are adept at making handmade murukku and kulkul, a savoury. “These are always in demand among our YWCA members,” adds Sharmila. 

Talking of the demand, chocolate never goes out of favour with anyone, says Bina Khiani, a woman entrepreneur. She personally bakes cookies and chocolates and prepares hampers ranging from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1,000. But it is not complete without the candles made by some of her under-privileged friends. If the hamper gets bigger, so does the number of candles that goes into it. “Corporates on the ECR and real estate companies buy these hampers for their employees and friends. The orders extend up to Christmas,”  says Bina. Past president Rotarian G Ravi Shankar, a chartered accountant by profession, says many family members of the Rotary Club of Ambattur are involved in preparing  gift hampers for Deepavali. “We buy quality dry fruits from the market and prepare gift boxes. These boxes are well-crafted and look very attractive. Our packs are bought by a tax consultant firm, GKS group and banks,” he says. The proceeds are used to fund several of their community projects such as Ambattur Rotary hospital, Thiruvenkadam Nagar Educational Society, Rotary New Mayer Foundation after school learning centre.