PM Modi takes notice of toy maker from Andhra’s Etikoppaka village

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<strong>With Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving a clarion call to toy manufacturers to use eco-friendly materials and avoid plastic and make India a global hub for such items in his address to the first ever toy fair in February, artisans engaged in the traditional toy-making are doing their bit. One of them is C.V. Raju hailing from Etikoppaka village, in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam, who has been nurturing the making of Etikoppaka toys, even found a mention in PM’s 68th Mann Ki Baat.</strong></p>
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Raju has been pioneering in making vegetative dyes and finding ways to increase the shelf life of these traditional toys. Besides, he has also developed a variety of contemporary toys for which the market has gradually emerged in India and abroad.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/economy-news/pm-gives-clarion-call-to-make-india-a-global-hub-for-eco-friendly-toys-69745.html">PM gives clarion call to make India a global hub for eco-friendly toys</a></strong></p>
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In 'Mann Ki Baat', Honorable PM Shri. <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji, appreciates the craftsman Sri. C.V Raju ji for his unique style in the making of Etikoppaka toys in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh<br />
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He encourages the startups to team up for toys and be vocal about local toys<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VocalForLocal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VocalForLocal</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y4gLk2Z6dJ">pic.twitter.com/Y4gLk2Z6dJ</a></p>
— Desi Artisans (@DesiArtisans) <a href="https://twitter.com/DesiArtisans/status/1301478431377457152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Significantly, the traditional Etikoppaka toy making, a dying art, uses non-toxic paints and natural dyes and is identified with the craft community of the region.</p>
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Exploring plant sources and lead-free dyes in their roots, barks, stems, leaves, fruits and seeds Raju experiments resulted in natural dye concentrates over wide-ranging colours, including royal red and Indigo. He established a co-operative association of the artisans called “Padmavati Associates” to ensure that these novel and innovative hues reach the right markets.</p>
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These toys being well rounded and coloured using natural dyes make them safe for children.</p>
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In order to give the toys a contemporary touch, a large number of shapes have been included in them like telephone, car, motorbike, cooking set, bowling game, go-go, ducks, whistle bird, cubby stack, turtle, train coach, train coach, dolls, tic-tac-toe etc.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/CV_Raju1.jpg" style="width: 720px; height: 480px;" /></p>
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Going beyond toys, women accessories like bangles, ear drops, earrings, hair clips, hairpins; items connected with worship like candle and incense stick stand, bells; household products like small bowls, pots, toothpick holder; stationery items like pen with stand, pencil caps, sharpener, keychains etc. have also been included in the portfolio to give it a diversified touch.</p>
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The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) conferred Raju with NIF’s 2nd Biennial National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Award which was given by former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.</p>
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NIF helped Raju in myriad ways like financial support for working capital, setting up of a community lab at the premises of innovator for product improvements, research and development; validating the herbal nature of the toys and facilitating commercialization through technology transfer to other enterprises and dissemination and diffusion activities across the country.</p>