Organic colours are the way to go, say school children

AHMEDABAD: Anushree Kulkarni, 12, stands in the middle of a bustling market explaining to everyone who listens the beneficial qualities of herbs used in organic colours. She can even rattle off the ingredients of each and explain how easy it is to prepare these colours.
Every year, benefits of organic colours are talked about yet few take notice of the fact that using organic colours can help nourish your skin and hair instead of harming it.Armed with information they got from the internet and a bit of guidance from teachers, these students of classes VII and VIII of Satyamevajayate school have spent the past week preparing and selling organic colours made from simple everyday ingredients.
"We use very simple ingredients like beetroot to make magenta water colour and turmeric and besan to make yellow dry colour. It is so simple and cheap to make these colours that anyone can prepare them at home," says Stuti Darji, 13. The kids sold these homemade colours at a market place close to their school. "We spent Rs 7 to make each 250 gm packet and sold them for Rs 15, the same price every vendor sells at," explains Libin Vargese.
"I stood next to a vendor who was selling artificial colours and I noticed that given a choice people would really prefer organic colours. Maybe they just aren't aware of how easy it is to make them," adds Falesha Giletwala, 13, another student. This is the first time these student are trying their hand at a venture like this. Now, they have bigger plans for next year.
Another positive initiative was by 120 members of Sharnam society in Satellite area. The entire society decided to donate grains and other food items usually burnt as offering in the Holi bonfire. "We decided to offer just a few grains for sentimental value and donate the rest," says Himangani, a resident of the society.
The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) also held a week-long campaign during which a team spoke to schoolchildren about organic colours and what makes them better. "We visited eight schools during the week. We also prepared colours and sold them and we were able to sell around 70 kg," says Priya Nair, the in-charge of CEE's Information Facilitation Centre. They sold the colours for Rs 30 per 100 gm packet.