Excelsior Correspondent
JKRLM is organising the first of its kind SARAS Ajeevika Mela from 4th February to 14th Feb 2023 at Aquaplex Crown, near Aquarium, Bagh-e-Bahu Jammu. SARAS Mela is a noteworthy initiative of Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) which aims to provide a platform to rural artisans to showcase their skills and products and also develop a market for themselves. SARAS Mela provides a lucrative opportunity to rural producers to sell their products directly in major markets, to interact with the buyers; to study and comprehend the latter’s tastes, preferences and choices. Thus, it helps them to upgrade and tailor their products, hone marketing skills and provide superlative services to consumers while benefiting from larger marketing opportunities. The Mela aims to eradicate middlemen between the craftsperson and the local buyers and ensures to increase the margins for the artisans.
SARAS Mela also aims at facilitating and motivating the beneficiaries of Self Help Groups (SHGs) supported by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana -National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) scheme of Ministry of Rural Development, to exhibit and sell their products and to provide them with an opportunity for additional income, exposure and interaction on a large scale.
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated 11-day long SARAS Aajeevika Mela at the Aquaplex Crown Bagh-e-Bahu. The exhibition is the largest gathering of rural Women Self-Help Groups from 17 States/UTs to showcase their skills and build the linkage with bulk buyers.
In this 11 day long Fair Rural SHG women Artisans craftsmen from 17 States are participating and selling their products. The self-help groups displayed handicraft, handloom and natural food items from different rural areas across the country in these stalls. This national-level food and cultural fair will exhibit unique and famous indigenous products from various states and UTs of the country. The event will provide a platform for the participants to sell and promote their self-made products & create marketing linkages with the various selling platforms.
The aim is to make them independent and provide them with a source of income. The festival started on 4th February and will conclude on 14th February 2023.
More than 300 craftsmen from various States are selling their products in SARAS Aajeevika Mela. The finest handicraft and handloom products from the remote areas of rural India are displayed at the Mela. The Festival has a variety of Handlooms and Food items to choose from – Handloom: Silk saree, cotton saree, handloom cloth, cotton suit from Jharkhand, Bihar and bedsheets from Uttar Pradesh; Stich sarees and dress materials from Gujrat exclusive sarees of Karnatak; Woollen and Pashmina shawls of Jammu & Kashmir; dress materials, , woollen shawls from Himachal Pradesh.
The SARAS Aajeevika Mela is helping in spreading the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Vocal for Local, Local to Global’ concept.
Women Self-Help Groups from PAN India are particpating in this fair, who have brought beautiful handmade items to this fair. At the fortnightly event showcased ethnic clothes, handicraft items, mouth-watering cuisines from different states under one roof. The Food Court at SARAS Ajeevika Jammu are occupied with delicacies from across the length and breadth of the country. The evenings at the fair are adorned with the cultural programmes which are making the event lively and vibrant where the audience got a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage from across the country. Local Folk artists are performing popular cultural programs
Huge number of people are visiting Saras Aajeevika Mela during the trade fair at Aquaplex crown Bahu fort Jammu. SARAS remained the favourite choice of the visitors due to decorated stalls, spectacular theme pavilion and cultural programs in the evening.
The famous SARAS Aajeevika Mela, focusing on the theme of ‘tradition, art, craft and culture’ is one of the most prestigious government initiatives, that not just offers best of the cultural heritage, but also tells the story of rural women donning the hat of an entrepreneur at a national level platform.
Govt. of India is committed to support rural women in every possible manner in raising the rural economy and economic stability in our rural areas. Be it farm-based livelihoods/ non-farm livelihoods/Trading/ Service providing, our women are at the forefront not only to change their lives but of their families as well. Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) is not only focusing on their economic upliftment but also to make them to become social leaders and motivators.
The UMEED Scheme of Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) is providing help to the aspirations of rural women in the Union Territory, who aspire to become economically independent.
It aims to reduce poverty by building strong grass-root institutions for the poor in Jammu and Kashmir engaging them in gainful livelihood intervention and ensuring appreciable improvement in their income.
UMEED is immensely helping women entrepreneurs to exhibit and market their products. The UMEED program under the JKRLM is a centrally sponsored scheme to encourage women to be self-dependent and self-sufficient.It also encourages women to make small savings so that their self-help groups (SHGs) eventually become bankable at reduced rate of interest .
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