Children with learning disabilities run weekly Swachh organic bazaar in Hyderabad
A Swachh bazaar in Hyderabad is not only known for selling organic vegetables but also because the small weekly market is managed by children with learning disabilities.
A Swachh bazaar in Hyderabad is not only known for selling organic vegetables but also because the small weekly market is managed by children with learning disabilities. From picking and weighing to packing and billing of vegetables, everything is done by these children.
Situated in a Hyderabad's Madhura Nagar, Swachh Bazaar was set up by Sahithi Reddy and Superna Bajaj in January 2017. The weekly market is set up every Thursday after 2 pm in front of a school in the locality. The women have also been running a school for 12 years where these children study.
Reddy, while speaking to The News Minute, said that Bajaj is involved in organic farming. The children used to visit the organic farm in Bodhuppal every Saturday to learn farming activities. She added that Bajaj thought of setting up a bazaar that would be run by these children.
Also Read: Mona Lisa didn't suffer from thyroid problem: Study
Every Monday, the students make a list of orders which are placed by customers through Whatsapp. The list is sent to the farmers who deliver the products by Wednesday. On Thursday, after the classes get over, the children take all the vegetables out from sacks and cross-check with the order list. Then, they weigh the vegetables and pack them according to the orders placed by the customers.
This whole activity is not only fun and exciting but also a mental exercise for the kids. To make the bills, they make columns on paper, write the customer's name, the items and their quantity ordered and then add up the total cost.
They have also launched a mini food truck to travel around the city to sell organic food items. The programme has been launched for trial currently. If it becomes successful, the activity would be made a part of co-curricular programmes. The mini food truck will give the children a chance to explore the city and interact with new people.