Ajili  Bottu is the Kurmma  Culture and Arts Group in which Krishna (Kitna), Kanna and Bala are members. They paint Folder Size Paintings, Greeting Cards, Book Marks, T Shirts and Cloth Bags. Keystone sells these paintings and products through its Green Shops. When some samples of the Greetings Cards were sent to IFFAD there was no big expectation. When the first order came for 500 cards last year the painters were delighted. The higher remuneration helped them save some money for the festival season. This year the first order for 500 cards came before Christmas and all of them were curious to know why the same types of cards are being ordered again. When we first spoke to them about Fair Trade they never knew such things existed. They wanted to know the details. They thought that the extra amount paid for the cards is because it was an export order. That is the usual understanding as they have already sent some cards and paintings to Germany. The repeat order for another 500 cards has made them confident which showed in the way they have taken the opportunity to get all the things required for the job right from paints and brushes.
For Krishna (Kitna) Bala and Kanna it is no concern of theirs as to where the greeting cards are going to be sold until the next 500 pieces order from Ten Thousand Villages through IFFAD. They were curious to know who is interested in these greeting cards and why?

Their routine of coming together to Kotagiri where Keystone has arranged a house for them to stay and work, doing the paintings as their moods swing and taking breaks to visit Keystone to  meet and discuss the community issues with the team of indigenous people has changed very little. But what has really changed them is Fair Trade is giving an opportunity for them to come together and work for long stretches of time which was not possible for them to do previously. They started to ask questions like, will there be regular order? Can we stock up cards? How much is our rate per piece this time?
We explained to them about IFFAD who is promoting Fair Trade. A visit to their website has excited them. The Art & Craft groups associated with IFFAD and the way it is trying to promote artisans nationally and internationally has made them very happy.
Now, the three of them have understood the support provided by Fair Trade and are looking forward to doing more products like letter heads, book marks, T Shirts and Bags. They have also managed to save some money. Krishna is spending more on her 1year old daughter and Bala is happy to carry home the earnings as it is much needed at the time his wife has given birth to a baby boy. The usually shy and withdrawn Kanna is instrumental in delivering the greeting cards on time. This is only the beginning of a long association which will make them truly masters of Kurumma art. Their uptapped potential in bamboo craft will in the future pave the way for them to increase the product range and improve their source of income. This will also hopefully lead the way for more artisans to take up the art & craft to improve their lives.

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