Shishir SARAS Mela:Government committed to uplift rural artisans

Minister of State for Rural Development Sh Pradeep Jain Aditya has reiterated the UPA Government’s commitment to give a fair deal to the rural artisans of the country. Talking to media after inaugurating the Shishir SARAS Mela in Delhi, the Minister said that there is enough talent in over seven lakh villages of the country and his ministry is making all efforts to provide the rural talents reasonable markets to sell their products. He said, such fairs should also be organized in different parts of the country to promote the goods of one state into another. Referring to the international exposure given to some of the artisans, Shri Jain underlined that more such fairs will be organized in future. He said that he will also talk to Delhi Chief Minister to expand Dilli Haat to accommodate more and more artisans. 

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Rural Development Shri S.Vijay Kumar said that the Ministry will promote such self-employment schemes like SARAS Mela. He also appealed to the artisans to bring new and saleable products in the market. The fair aims at facilitating the beneficiaries of self help groups of SGSY and NRLM to exhibit and sell their products and provide them with opportunities for additional income, exposure and interaction on a large scale. 

The exhibition-cum-sale under the brand name of SARAS displays a wide range of products produced by the rural artisans, craftsmen and beneficiaries of self help group from all over the country. Around 162 stalls and 324 artisans from 20 States are participating in the fair.