November 14, 2001

    The Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Subhash Maharia said that the Ministry is providing all possible help to elevate the skills of rural artisans. This has brought, noticeable change in this segment in recent past. He was inaugurating SARAS-2001, an exhibition of rural products organised jointly by the Rural Development Ministry and the Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) at the Pragati Maidan here today.

    Shri Subhash Maharia said that through every possible platform the Ministry is trying to encourage the artisans. Over 400 participants and 70 self help groups (SHG’s) from various states and Union Territories are participating in the present exhibition. The Ministry, through District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA’s), has organised over 150 ‘Gramashri’ Melas through out the country where over Rs. 28 Crore worth of business has taken place, he said. The Ministry has also exhibited the produces of the artisans of rural India in International Trade Fairs, Shri Maharia said.

    Shri Annasaheb M.K.Patil, the Minister of State for Rural Development said that the Government is committed for the upliftment of rural masses. Shri Patil was the Chief Guest for the inaugural function of SARAS-2001. The Ministry through CAPART is helping the artisans in better way, he said. The Minister asked CAPART to look after the marketing part of the produces of the village artisans. Shri Patil also threw light over the various Rural Development Schemes.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Rural Development Secretary, Shri Arun Bhatnagar said that the Ministry is also encouraging the states to organise such Mela’s where artisans can exhibit their skills. The Director General of CAPART Shri Rangan Dutta also spoke on the occasion.

    The SARAS-2001 being held in the IITF, is accommodating 1500 rural artisan, who are below the poverty line (BPL) belonging to various parts of the country making it the largest pavilion in IITF with over 400 stalls. SARAS will sensitise the Urban consumers to the richness of the products from the rural artisans and create a demand for them. And this also projects the efforts of the Ministry in supporting self-employment opportunities, poverty alleviation and Development of rural sector.