Beads of various hues, strewn into beautiful necklaces, chains, and earrings are on display at the Museum Art Gallery here. The exhibition is being organised by Koottam.com on behalf of Preetha Attingal, who is paralysed from waist down since her school days. This is the second expo of Koottam.com, founded as a social networking forum for Keralites by N.S. Jyothikumar and Jeyamohan.

Preetha writes for the Koottam blog under the name ‘Snehapravahini.’ Her deep interest in jewellery prompted her Koottam friends to set up a small business for her. Beads from Varanasi are procured by a Koottam friend who resides in Mumbai. Preetha crafts pretty necklaces and earrings out of them, coming up with her own designs and methods. The price ranges from Rs.125 to Rs.600. The profits obtained from the sale will be added to Preetha’s next venture.

Koottam reaches out to many more talented and needy members. Preetha has been trained to manage the business too, says Sujatha Vinod Shanker, a mural artist. Rani and Renu Mohan, members of Koottam, are overseeing the exhibition. The exhibition, open from 10 a.m. every day, will go on till July 9.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Kerala / by A Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram – July 09th, 2015