6th Edition-Meeting the team and Muslim mutton

The day had come to meet the workers. I was very happy to do so. We pulled up outside the juice bar to meet Prasad. He was a little flustered but very happy to show us our "taxi". Manoj was not so happy to see the taxi. "We can't do a 170 km's in that". It was a tut tut. "No problems Manoj it will be very comfortable". Said Prasad. "No Prasad, it will not be happening like this today,we shall find a taxi car", was the response.

Well thank god we did take the taxi car. It took 3.5 hours.

Once there we met Hemelata and her family. Hemelata (pictured above) is typical of the people who are making these Sari Bracelets. There are now scores of these families who make the bracelets in thier own homes. When I went up on the roof I saw at least three people making our bracelets on their rooves. The device Hemelata uses is a simple wooden machine. Each bracelet typically takes about ten seconds for the silk to be wound around the tube. This will then be sent to a chap who finishes it with a golen "geri".

The families whom we have asked to make bracelets for us a more than happy to do so as it means an extra income for them. I am sure that this system we have in place would be deemed as Fair Trade, so I am pleased. I asked if there was anything that we could do to make things more comfortable for them-"No" was the answer, but if I wanted, they would change things for me !

With regards to quantity Hemelata said that she reckons she can make 200-400 pieces a day. I said that the speed was not the most important thing for us as we have many people making, more important is the the quality. This business is not yet full time work for them but im hoping with some good promotion that we can at least give them a lot more part time work

The visit finished with a bang when I lavished sweets on the kids of the village, it was a little wild but a very enjoyable to experience. See photos.

We finished off the day by going to a muslim restaurant. Very nice mutton "Number 1 in whole of madras". As Prasad said. See photo-washing up room.

You may be happy to learn that Manoj has infact been invited to dinner at Prasad's tomorrow night. His fist struck the roof of the car in celebration when asked.

Good night England
dominic