Go natural, say no to chemical colours
PUNE: The festival of colours is here. Along with the many hues, Holi unfortunately brings with it various hazards related to the use of toxic chemical colours. But now for the eighth consecutive year, a Pune-based social enterprise – eCoexist – has been educating children and adults about the advantages of natural colour.
The organisation promotes ‘Rang Dulaar’ – natural holi colours. The colours are made out of turmeric, rice flour and recycled flowers, and contain no artificial colours. Fillers or preservatives that are used have been lab tested for zero heavy metal content.
Manisha Gutman founder of eCoexist said, “Colours sold in the market contain chemicals, and are made from cheap materials like mica, alkalis and pieces of glass. Hence, it is harmful for the eyes, skin, as also when inhaled. ‘Rang Dulaar’ has been lab tested with the help from Toxics Link, an environmental NGO, to ensure that it is free of heavy metals such as lead and mercury.”
This year, eCoexist has co-ordinated with various NGOs to distribute free colours to organizations such as, Doorstep School, Bal Kalyan Sanstha, Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra (BSSK), Vidya Jyoti, Balwant Phadke Municipal School, School and Home for Blind Boys and Blind Girls in Pune. It has also roped in several corporate groups as sponsors and will be inviting volunteers to join in the various events at these schools and play Holi with the children, Gutman said. Akanksha, an NGO in Mumbai, will be distributing colours to slum children there.
The eCoexist team will be hosting a ‘Completely Natural Holi party’ on March 20, where people would be invited to come and play in a completely safe environment. The event is being sponsored by the Sangam World Centre at Vishrantwadi, and will be held in their camp site on Alandi Road.
The Rang Dulaar project began as an initiative under the Kalpavriksh Environment Action Group way back in 2003. After several years of educational activity through Safe Festival campaigns, the work was taken ahead by the eCoexist team.
The colours are made by women farmers of the Vanastree group in Sirsi, Karnataka, and packaged by women prisoners of the Yerwada central jail in Pune. Nearly 5,000 kg of colour has been produced this year, including dry and wet colours. The colours are being distributed to several cities across the country and are even finding their way to Indian homes abroad.
It is easy to make natural colours, as well as ‘pichkaris’ with the help of recycled water bottles. Log on to www.e-coexist.com for more details.