Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh today inaugurated SARAS 2004 Mahotsava at Rural Development pavilion at IITF, Pragati Maidan. Addressing the media persons on the occasion of inauguration of SARAS 2004 Pavilion jointly put up by Ministry of Rural Development and Council for Advancement of People¡¦s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Minister of Rural Development said that SARAS represented our commitment to do everything possible to assist the Swarozgaris to develop themselves and helped them market their products. SARAS is a vision to see every Swarozgaris becoming self-reliant in managing their enterprises, he added. SARAS 2004, an exhibition of skillfully crafted valuable products by rural artisans from all over the country represents a resurgent rural India. It is a platform that provides proper marketing facilities and support to the artisans so that they can earn good value from their products.
Ministry of Rural Development is organizing SARAS, an exhibition of such products by rural artisans round the year in different parts of the country. The major festival, however, is held annually during the IITF in Delhi at Pragati Maidan since 1999.
Handicrafts, handloom and agro products have traditionally been considered as the mainstay of our rural economy. Considering the fact that India has more than six million villages, these products play the cardinal role in the overall economy of the country. In order to resurrect and rehabilitate these dying village industries on priority, development and marketing of the handicrafts, handloom and agro products of the swarozgaris, thus form the major concern of the Ministry. This year, the SARAS 2004 is being organized with following major attractions:
„h Live Demonstration by Artisans - live and on the spot demonstration by various artisans has been arranged during the SARAS 2004.
„h Workshops ¡V Workshops has been planned on products and constantly changing market dynamics during the fair to provide a platform for interaction between the artisans and experts.
„h Buyer-Seller meets ¡V Regular organized buyer ¡V seller meets will become an important aspect of SARAS 2004-which will help the artisans to meet exporters, international buyers, bulk buyers and others.
„h Cultural Programmes ¡V Folk troupes from different parts of the country will also present a bouquet of music, dance etc. during the evenings.
(Release ID :4902)