By IANS,
New Delhi : Naga shawls from Arunachal Pradesh, handicrafts from Ladakh and apples and dry fruits from Himachal Pradesh were the star attractions at an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) exhibition here.
The three-day event in south Delhi concluded Sunday. The products showcased were made by families of ITBP guards posted in border areas as well as residents of various states.
“The response is overwhelming and our pickles, jams, juices and tea are the hot selling items,” said Naresh Kumar, posted in Assam.
“The exhibition was organised by our welfare arm, HWWA,” ITBP spokesperson Deepak Pandey told IANS.
“HWWA trains families in food processing, tailoring, beautician course, home management, computers and child care,” he added.
According to the ITBP, the items on sale were brought here by the ITBP personnel from the areas where they were posted. The sale proceeds would be used for the welfare of personnel and the area residents.
With winter setting in, woollen products like pashmina shawls, jackets, sweaters and Kinnauri topis (woollen caps) were on everybody’s wish list.
“I’ve got a pashmina shawl for my mother-in-law and sweaters for my kids. Though there is not much variety, the quality is very good,” said 52-year-old homemaker Lalita Mehra from R.K. Puram.
The ITBP is deployed from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Diphu La in Arunachal Pradesh, manning border outposts across 3,488 km on altitudes ranging from 9,000-18,500 feet in the western, central and eastern sectors of the India-China border.
The force has its presence in a number of states, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the northeast.