CB BureauThis Rakshabandhan, Mumbai-based
Plants and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) will sell eco-friendly rakhis and
similar merchandize to raise funds to support the cause of blind girl children
and helpless animals.
The funds generated by the event will be divided equally
between PAWS and the National Association for the Blind.
‘This is an opportunity for an NGO like us to help out
another NGO. Apart from spreading awareness about our cause, we will also be selling
ecofriendly articles and recyclable products. The rakhis that we plan to sell
at this fundraising event are all handmade. They have been painstakingly
created by some of the talented underprivileged youngsters working with us,’
said Nilesh Bhanage, founder of PAWS.
All the rakhis are priced at Rs 10, and PAWS plans to utilize
its half to improve its infrastructure. ‘We have already shipped around 150
rakhis to our supporters. On weekends, we will be setting up small stalls on
the roads and will sell to the public,’ he said.
PAWS is also involved in the rescue and treatment of small
and large animals across the city and the suburbs. Apart from the rakhis on
offer, it markets pens made of paper, pure cotton t-shirts, clay mugs, and many
other products.
‘All the products are made by different NGOs and we help market
them through our website. We also inform people about some products we use
everyday, which are not ecofriendly in reality.
‘For example, the mugs that are so abundantly available in
upscale malls and fancy gift shops are actually made of bone china, which
contain the crushed bones of slaughtered animals,’ said Bhanage.
PAWS do not restrict its activities to spreading awareness
about the plight of animals. In the past, the NGO has raised funds for several
other causes including the rights of domestic help and for the betterment of underprivileged
women. The products are marketed through their website and social networking sites.