SARAS-2003 – AN EXHIBITION/SALE OF PRODUCTS MADE BY SELF-HELP GROUPS AT IITF FROM NOVEMBER 14-27, 2003

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Ministry of Rural Development is organising ‘SARAS 2003’- an exhibition cum sale of rural products made by Self-Help groups at India International Trade Fair from 14 – 27 November 2003. 1200 participants from 27 States/ UTs, 90 Non-Governmental Organisations and all 7 Zonal Cultural Centres will take part in this event. Union Minister of Rural Development, Shri Kashiram Rana will inaugurate ‘SARAS 2003’ at Hall No. 7, Pragati Maidan on November 14, 2003 at 12.00 Noon. Artisans with wide range of their vibrant products covering handicrafts, furniture, textiles (including handlooms), leather items, processed food items, pottery, paintings, bell metal items, bamboo products and a large number of gift items will present a scene of mini-India.

Marketing is a major bottleneck coming in the way of rural artisans’ upliftment. The real cause of poverty alleviation programmes not meeting with success was the non-availability of marketing facilities to the rural artisans for their products. The Ministry of Rural Development gave a serious thought towards providing market facilities to the products of rural artisans after having seen the impact of empowerment of poor through self-help groups under Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY). The rural artisans’ are being provided with stall to sale and exhibit their products free of cost at these events. They not only freed themselves from the clutches of middleman but also started getting the real value of their products.