Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development will inaugurate the SARAS – 2007, a fortnight long event at Dilli Haat, New Delhi tomorrow. Organised jointly by the Ministry of Rural Development and Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), this fair will continue till 24th of this month.
The fair aims at facilitating the SGSY beneficiaries, rural artisans, Craftsmen, SHGs and NGOs to exhibit and sell their products and provide them the opportunity for additional income and exposure and interaction on a large scale. This exhibition-cum-sales fair under the brand name of SARAS will display a wide range of products manufactured by the rural artisans, Craftsmen and beneficiaries of Self Help Groups from all over the country. It creates a unique platform for developing linkages with the buyers and customers and also provides opportunity to deal directly with the buyers avoiding the middlemen. Around 190 Stalls and 500 Swarojgaries from 20 States from all over India will be participating in the fair. Some of special attractions for this SARAS are Metal work products from Madhya Pradesh, Sambalpur, Saris from Orissa, Wood-works from Tamil Nadu, Bamboo Craft from Tripura, Madhubani paintings from Bihar, Terracotta's from Chattisgarh and Shawls & Carpets from Jammu and Kashmir etc. Another major attraction of the mega event is the presentation of divergent cultural programmes of different States throughout the fair.
Organizing SARAS fair at Dilli Haat and at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) by the Ministry of Rural Development is an annual feature. The Ministry also organizes a number of regional SARAS fairs at State capitals and other major cities throughout the country. During the year 2006-07, 23 Regional SARAS fairs were organized besides IITF SARAS fair.
SMK/ST/JA
(Release ID :31143)