Mysuru: As part of the ongoing Chinnara Mela summer camp, Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) had organised a programme at Vanaranga in Kalamandira premises here yesterday which featured a demonstration on detection of adulteration in food items.

MGP Convenors C.V. Nagaraj and V. Mahesh demonstrated the techniques to identify adulterants in common food items. They pointed out that food items like oil, butter, ghee, pulses, khova, pepper and saffron were often adulterated with look-alike materials with no nutritional value and detrimental to health.

They conducted demonstration to identify an adulterated item.

Many of the camp participants too involved in the demonstration posing inquisitive and intriguing questions to the organisers.

Nagaraj and Mahesh asked children not to be lured by cheap lollipops and sweets which were made with adulterated raw materials and carcinogenic colours not approved for food items.

The children seemed to relish the educative interlude amidst the routine cultural programmes.

Camp Director Mime Ramesh and others were present.

Today (Apr. 20) the children will be given a demonstration on Prevention of Fire mishaps between 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm.

Tomorrow (Apr. 21) renowned singer Vasu Dikshit will render vachana gayana at Vanaranga from 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm.

About C.V. Nagaraj

C.V. Nagaraj, a retired Senior Chemist, is agile even at 81. He has been the Convenor of MGP for the last 23 years and has conducted 3,018 programmes on detection of adulteration in food items and environmental awareness. The one at Chinnara Mela was his 3,019th programme.

While working as a Chemist at an Agmark Laboratory in Chennai way back in 1967, Nagaraj’s daughter took seriously ill after consuming an adulterated medicine and he had a very tough time to save her. That prompted Nagaraj to join MGP and begin awareness campaigns on detection of food adulteration.

Nagaraj has authored books like ‘Detection of Food Adulteration,’ ‘Adulteration in Food and Consumer Rights’ in English and ‘Ahaara Kalaberake’ and ‘Ahaara Kalaberake Thadegattuvike mattu Grahakara Jagruti’ in Kannada. He has won several awards like Hoysala award, Grahaka Bhushan, Grahaka Ratna, Brahmara Life- time Service to Society award, Grahaka Ranadheera and Grahaka Seva Dhurandara.

After studying in Maharaja’s College and Yuvaraja’s College, Nagaraj did his post-graduation from Kolkata Institute of Chemists. He has conducted awareness programmes in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh also.