MARKETING LINKAGES TO RURAL PRODUCERS
WILL BRING BETTER LIVELIHOOD TO RURAL INDIA – KASHIRAM RANA
RANA
INAUGURATES ‘SARAS 2003’ PAVILION AT IITF
Shri Kashiram Rana,
Union Minister for Rural Development inaugurated ‘SARAS
2003’ today at India International Trade Fair. Shri Rana
said ‘SARAS 2003’ is a platform that provides proper
marketing facilities and support to the artisans so that they
can earn good value from their products. ‘SARAS 2003’ is an exhibition-cum-sale
of skilfully crafted valuable products by rural artisans from
all over the country.
Shri Rana said that
SARAS is a gateway through which rural producers come together
to market their products. They study and comprehend the buyer’s
taste, preferences and choices. Thus it helps them to upgrade
and adjust their products and marketing skills and provide better
service to consumers.
Shri Rana informed
that about 1200 participants from 29 States/Uts are participating
in 550 stalls of SARAS pavilion. SARAS is jointly organised by
Ministry of Rural Development and Council for Advancement of People's
Action and Rural Technology (CAPART).
Shri Rana informed
that ‘SARAS 2002’ resulted in direct sales of more than Rs.4.50
crore and the firms orders worth Rs. 2 crore. The Self Help Group
are assisted by Ministry of Rural Development under the Swarnjayanti
Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY). So far, 15.53 lakh self help groups
have been formed and 37.82 lakh total swarozgaris have been assisted.
Elaborating further
the efforts made by the Ministry, Shri Rana said that in order
to give an exposure to rural artisans at international level,
it is planned the participation of rural artisans and sale to
their products at international fairs to be held at Milan in
Italy and Kualalumpur in Malaysia during the current
month and two other events to be held at Cairo (Egypt) and Birmingham
(U.K.) shortly. Shri Rana expressed the hope that participation
by our rural artisans in such events will not only help in building
their self-confidence but also kindle a flame in the hearts of
artisans to emulate the quality and standard of products brought
by rural artisans of other countries in such fairs.
Shri Annasaheb M.K.
Patil, Minister of State for Rural Development highlighted the
example of East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh, where self
help groups have capital of Rs. 73 crore and their annual turnover
is about Rs.209 crore.
Shri U.V. Krishnam
Raju, Minister of State for Rural Development said that from the
experience they gain from here, rural producers can make further
changes in the quality, design and packaging etc.
DG CAPART, Ms Komal
Anand informed that during 2003-04 CAPART would organise 36-Gram
Shree Melas with emphasis on the marketing of products of self
help groups. She said that Technology Resource Centre in Wardha
has come out with appropriate technology that has reduced cost
of Khadi.
