'Basante Srijan' brings artworks of the differently-abled under limelight

Kolkata: The grounds of Jatin Das Park in South Kolkata witnessed a large gathering on Friday as the annual rehabilitation fair 'Basante Srijan 2019' organised by different city-based NGOs, began in full swing.

The one-day fair which exhibited various handicraft items made by homeless people with psycho-social disabilities, was an attempt to extend a helping hand towards them.

The fair, which was inaugurated by ward 70 councillor Asim Basu and state secretary of Trinamool Youth Congress Yasser Haider among others, was held from 12 pm to 8 pm.

Nabanita Mukherjee, the project coordinator of urban mental health programme at an NGO, said: "This annual fair, which has around 20 stalls put up by different NGOs dealing with the disabled, provides a chance for such people to take a break from their everyday battles and display their works of art."

"Our NGO particularly works with such people who are fighting various mental diseases such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia among others and who often leave their homes and go around wandering in the city. We rescue such people and provide them with adequate medical treatment. We also provide training for making jewellery, apparel, confections, earthenware and other handicraft products," said Mukherjee.

She further added that the prices of the products being sold at the exhibition-cum-sale are reasonably moderate and the funds collected at the end of it will be used for future projects.

Shikha Dutta, the mother of a young artist who has put up a stall at the fair to exhibit her son's paintings, said her son has been battling cerebral palsy since the prime years of his childhood. Apart from that, he also suffers from complete loss of hearing.

"My son and other people like him need a job, something to keep them busy. When Debashish is engaged in his world of art, his mental battles are kept at bay. There have been days when his paintings did not sell at all and he was almost on the verge of giving up. But I continue to support and encourage him as the doctors have said that being involved in such activities will provide him an impetus to recover faster," she said.