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Ms. Visalakshi Ramaswamy has documented the craft and heritage of the Chettiar community along with S. Muthiah and Meenakshi Meyyappan in the book ‘The Chettiar Heritage’. Manjal, a craft store in Chennai, supported by her organisation offering sling bags, to ipad sleeves and the famous Kottan (Palmyra baskets of Chettinad) was awarded the UNESCO Seal of Excellence Award. Project Kottan was one of the first initiatives of the Foundation, and she has spent many years collecting, researching, resurrecting and reinventing the humble Kottan, or the traditional palm leaf baskets of Chettinad, and was instrumental in getting the GI tag. Ms. Ramaswamy is now in the process of documenting the Kandanghi sari of Chettinad. Ms. Ramaswamy is an Executive Committee member of the Craft Council of India, and is very much involved in its projects. She also works with the World Crafts Council in projects to promote and encourage craft education in schools. She is a member of the All-India Handicrafts Board of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
