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National SARAS Mela records Rs 2 cr in sales
In Short
The National SARAS Ajeevika Mela at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada achieves ₹2 crore in sales, showcasing 1,500 women SHG entrepreneurs and 600 stalls nationwide.
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NIRDPR additional director Sudhir Kumar addressing a press conference on the National SARAS Ajeevika Mela at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada on Saturday
Vijayawada: National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) additional director Sudhir Kumar said the National SARAS Ajeevika Mela, being organised for the first time in Vijayawada, had been attracting huge crowds and providing a national marketing platform for products made by women self-help group (SHG) members from across the country. He said the exhibition had recorded sales of around Rs.2 crore so far, with daily footfall ranging from 40,000 to 50,000 visitors.
Addressing a press conference at the SARAS Mela venue at Punnami Ghat on Saturday, Sudhir Kumar said the event, organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development with the support of the Andhra Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SERP), aimed to promote women entrepreneurs and provide wider market access to products made by rural SHGs.
Around 1,500 women entrepreneurs representing 32 States and Union Territories are participating in the exhibition, which features nearly 600 stalls showcasing handlooms, handicrafts and natural food products. A dedicated food court with 50 live food stalls offers visitors an opportunity to sample traditional cuisines from different parts of the country.
He said the mela was more than an exhibition, serving as a platform for rural women to improve product quality, expand their businesses and access wider markets. The Welcome Pavilion near Gate No. 2 houses a help desk, registration counter and lost-and-found centre, while the Convergence Pavilion showcases government schemes and creates awareness among SHG members about available benefits and business opportunities.
The Meet and Greet Pavilion conducts daily training sessions with NIRDPR and national-level experts on branding, packaging, export marketing and value-chain management to help women entrepreneurs reach wider markets. The Lakhpati Didi Pavilion highlights the achievements and success stories of women entrepreneurs, while the Demonstration Pavilion allows visitors to watch artisans making their products.
SERP administrative director Kalyana Chakravarthy said the mela was receiving an encouraging response during the Dasara festive season. He said the 600 stalls had been allotted free of cost to women SHG members and artisans, while travel, food and accommodation were also being provided free of charge to participating representatives from across the country.
Describing the exhibition as a ‘Mini India’, he said the display of regional handlooms, handicrafts, natural food products and traditional cuisines brought the country’s cultural diversity under one roof.
