Smt. Shamna, Shabna Graphics, Kavaratti, Lakshadweep Island

03 October 2020: Our ancestors were from Kerala. We started our multidimensional printing press about ten years ago. Our 600 sq. ft. print unit houses Screen printing (manual), Epson Sublimation Printer, photo studio, sublimation equipment, Konica Minolta digital printer, Lamination machine, etc. We undertake all types of commercial printing, t-shirt printing, mug and gift items printing. We regularly get government notice printing. We source all our materials from Kochi in Kerala.

Now due to Covid-19, we order on the phone and it takes 7-10 days to reach here by ship. As it is we are in a small market limited to the Island. During the lockdown, the business was almost nil. Now slowly some jobs are coming. Due to lockdown, there was no tourism and hospitality activity hence there was no job coming from this sector also. Although lockdown is being relaxed, yet schools have not opened and jobs from education sector are also nil. So, overall, about 25-30% business is down now. Over and above, owing to lock down, prices of materials have gone up. Luckily, we do stock about one month’s materials requirement.

Although we are aware of new technologies and machines, for a small market like ours, investment in such technologies are not viable. I must appreciate that Lakshadweep Administration is supporting people here and we are sure that at the time of distress the Government will shield us from all the adversities.

We invite our fellow Indians from Main Land to visit Lakshadweep once in a lifetime. It is a tropical archipelago of 36 atolls and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea. It is located to the southwest of Karnataka and to the west of Kerala. Kavaratti is one of the more developed islands It is also well known for its pristine white sand beaches and calm lagoons. In Kavaratti you can see ornamental decorated Ujra Mosque, as well as Kavaratti Aquarium, showcasing regional fish, shark and coral species.