The Gandhi Centre for Rural Development in colloboration with the Kollam Centre for Gandhian Studies and Research,Kollam Sarvodaya Mandalam and the Rotary Club of Quilon East organised Thirteen days Swadeshi Festival at Olayil Rotary Club Hall from 10 to 22 April 2012.The Festival consists of Home Made Products Training, Home Made Products Exhibition and Seminars on various aspects of Swadeshi. The Labour Minister Shibu Baby John inaugurated the Swadeshi Festival on 10 April at 10.30am and Dr.Jacob Pulickan,Director,Gandhi Centre for Rural Development presided over the function.The Rotary Club of Quilon East Prof.Dr.B.Harikumar delivered the Keynote address.The Kollam Sarvodaya Mandalam President N.Janardhanan Nair and G.R.Krishnakumar Participated.

Annu Uppu,Ennu Soap,Swadeshi and Sustainable Development,Paper Bag an Alternative to Plastic Carry Bag were the important seminars organised along with the Swadeshi Festival.The Seminars focused boththe theoratical and practical aspects.Prayar Gopalakrishnan Ex MLA inaugurated the Seminar Swadeshi and Sustainable Development and Kollam District Panchayat President R.Gopalakrishna Pillai inaugurated the Anti-Plastic Campaign.

As part of the Festival,Five Training programmes were also conducted.(1)Jewel Making (2)Soap Making (3)Food Processing and Jackfruit Products Making (4)Umbrella Making (5)Paper Bag Making .In addition,a wide range of Home Made Products exhibition was also arranged along with the Festival in order to give a first hand information to the people.

Prayar Gopalakrishnan Inaugurating the seminar on Swadeshi and Sustainable Development.Dr.Jacob Pulickan and B.Balachandran are sitting.

Labour Minister Shibu Baby John Inaugurating the Kollam Swadeshi Festival.N.Janardhanan Nair, Dr.Jacob Pulickan Prof.Dr.B.Harikumar and Choolur V.Bhaskaran Nair are sitting.