Of water through taps, livelihoods and the Hirkani Haat at Latur...

Of water through taps, livelihoods and the Hirkani Haat at Latur....

January is synonymous with Mahalakshmi Saras in Mumbai. I was blessed with the opportunity to organize it  the last four years during my tenure as CEO MSRLM. The efforts put in by the SHG women and our team had made it emerge as a brand with each passing year. I have been flooded with calls and messages over how everyone was missing Mahalakshmi Saras this year due to Covid. No doubts I have been missing it too.
There is a magic about it, a charm which can only be experienced and felt in our hearts, soul and the products made by SHG women. Paul Coelho has said that when you want something the whole universe conspires to make it happen.
To a large extent it became true when I could feel the pulse of Mahalakshmi Saras at The Hirkani Haat at Latur yesterday.
My visit to Latur to review the progress of Jal Jeevan Mission along with the Hon'ble Minister of State for Water Supply and Sanitation, Mr.Sanjay Bansode  coincided with the Hirkani Haat at Latur. On the one hand I could witness the progress of household tap connections,  interact with women and know about their joys due to household tap connections and on the other I could experience their marketing skills at Hirkani Haat,  the district Saras.
Organised meticulously by Abhinav Goel, the Chief Executive Officer of Latur Zilla Parishad, it has all the elements for an avid shopper.
Food products are always the biggest attraction and one could gorge on the popular groundnut laddoos and variety of chikkis.
Sandhyarani Datal's Khaakras would make many Gujarati chefs run for their money. The ten different flavours icluding jeera, paanipuri, masala, methi, khichadi are extremely tasty. Health snacks like Soya nuts, coffee, buttermilk are also available. 
While we all are familiar with lime and mango pickles many may not have heard of Drumstick pickles. Meera Maske of Budhoda Village made me taste this new variety of pickle which is not only healthy but extremely tasty. Her eyes shone with pride as she shared it's popularity reaching America and also the fact that Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Ms.Supriya Sule is among her patrons.
The variety of spices specially the different kinds of turmeric, chilly powder, masalas, spices made one drool.
Organic unpolished Tur Daal, cleaned on the traditional hand grinder, "Jaata" and other pulses are available at rates unthinkable in Mumbai. 
Sundried Dehydrated bengal gram ( Harbhara) leaves prepared by Bhimai SHG  of Bhada Village of Ausa Block is another unique health product. 
Garden lovers can purchase organic compost made by Krishi Sakhis. For lovers of art and textiles there is a variety of artefacts, Banjara dresses, Ikkat kurtis, bags and face masks in a multitude of colours.
If you want to cover yourself in the age old warmth of Godhadis, traditional cotton quilts, the designer line of Godhadis by Roma are extremely attractive and now easily available on Amazon.
And once  you are done with all the shopping gorge yourself on the yummy Dahi dhapate, Borsuri Varan , Bhajiyas , Ujani Basundi, Thalipeeth and other rustic food.
"Hirkani" symbolises the dynamic woman and her hardships, love, compassion and sacrifice. Time and again women from the self help groups of Umed MSRLM have proven that  they are ready to take on the  world. Hirkani Haat portrays that spirit.
Dashasutri, the ten cardinal principles of MSRLM leads to overall development of the woman, her family and the village. Health, Nutrition and Sanitation is the sixth sutra and Water is an inseparable part of nutrition. 
Almost fifty percent of the diseases among women and children are waterborne. It is also a known fact that women have to trudge miles to get drinking water. Jal Jeevan Mission has been launched to reduce this drudgery in the lives of women by providing good quality drinking water through taps in their homes.
As I sipped water after the tasty meal in the food stalls at the Hirkani Haat my heart overflowed with joy, that Jal Jeevan Mission had given me another opportunity to work for the cause of women.

P.S. The Hirkani Haat is open from 10 a.m to 10 pm till 31st January 2021 at Latur Krida Sankul, Latur.