November 19, 2001

'43'

VENKAIAH NAIDU STRESSED FOR CONVERGENCE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES WITH KVIC AND OTHER MINISTERIES

        The Minister for Rural Development Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Members of Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Rural Development visited the SARAS pavilion at India International Trade Fair-2001 here today. Shri Naidu said SARAS is a platform to project the capacity and richness of the skills of rural people particularly the artisans, weavers and craftsmen to cross the poverty line by producing quality goods with the assistance provided by District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA’s), Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) and other agencies of the Central and State Governments.

        Inaugurating a workshop on "Rural Marketing" Shri Naidu stressed for the need of convergence of Rural Development Schemes with KVIC and other ministries. Shri Naidu emphasised upon to develop Rural Marketing in Two-Fold Strategy – one being need-based initiatives and other skill-based initiatives. Shri Naidu announced that Rural Marketing Centres will be constructed not only in the State capitals, but also at the District level. Shri Naidu said, for special marketing complexes, the Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned special projects for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Shri Naidu emphasised upon participation of Corporate Sector, appointment of Marketing Consultant, need for Quality Control, preparing MELA calendar for all the States, demand survey for Marketing of Rural Produces and close interaction with Self-help Groups and Rural Producers.

        Shri Subhash Maharia, Minister of State for Rural Development Members of Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Arun Bhatnagar, Secretary Rural Development, Shri Rangan Dutta, Director General, CAPART, senior officers of the Ministry and leaders of Self-help Groups also attended the workshop.

        Underlining the need for specialised marketing arrangement for the rural poor, Shri Naidu said that in the coming years market will be increasingly competitive and even rural products may face competition from abroad. Shri Naidu informed to meet the increasing demand from the self-help groups, DRDA’s and NGO’s this year, SARAS-2001 is organised with 440 stalls. 1400 SHG’s, 60 NGO’s and 26 States are participating in SARAS 2001. It is expected that the turnover in 2001 would be almost double of SARAS 2000.