A “Lakhpati Didi” pavilion will also be set up at the fair, which will inspire other women from rural self-help groups. In addition, SARAS products are available on e-Saras, and customers will also be made aware of this through a special e-Saras stall.
To promote the self-reliance of women from rural self-help groups and to make various Indian culture-infused products easily accessible to the people of Gurugram, the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, in collaboration, is organising the Saras Aajeevika Mela at a national level for the third time. This fair will be held in Gurugram District from October 13 to October 29 at the Leisure Valley Ground, Sector-29. Here, 900 women from self-help groups across 30 states will set up 450 stalls showcasing handmade products related to their art and culture. Entry to the fair is completely free for the public, and it will be open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM.
In a press conference held at the Freedom Fighter District Parishad Hall in Gurugram, Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, elaborated on the details of the Saras Aajeevika Mela. Director Rajeshwari S.M. from the Ministry of Rural Development and Gurugram’s Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav were also present at the press meet. They highlighted the significant changes brought to the lives of women from self-help groups through the combined efforts of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM). For the past 26 years, these fairs have not only guided rural India’s women towards self-reliance but have also provided a major platform for the various forms of ancient Indian art and culture that had faded in the race toward modernity.
The Saras Mela is a living example of how traditional Indian products can be provided with a better market alongside modernity. They emphasised that under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), more than 90 lakh self-help groups, consisting of around 10 crore women, are turning the rich culture of rural areas into a means of livelihood, paving the way for a brighter future for themselves and their families, while promoting the “Vocal for Local” initiative.
A pavilion at the Saras Mela will be dedicated to one state, and changes have been made to the stall arrangements for the convenience of visitors. Swati Sharma shared that based on feedback received from previous fairs, necessary adjustments have been made to the stall layout this time. In the upcoming Saras Mela, each pavilion will be dedicated to a particular state, offering products that represent the taste and culture of that specific region to customers. Similarly, a special pavilion will be set up for the Northeastern states, where products reflecting the unique culture of these regions will attract visitors.
To enhance the capacity of women self-help groups (SHGs), special pavilions such as a Learning Pavilion and Knowledge Sharing Pavilion will be set up at the Saras Mela. These pavilions will provide the SHG women, known as “Didis,” with information on various livelihood opportunities and connect them with different schemes offered by various ministries of the Government of India (such as the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Ministry of Textiles, among others). Additionally, skill development training programs will be conducted for them.
Swati Sharma also mentioned that more than 900 women from different states will participate in the fair. Workshops will be organized for SHG women on various topics, such as packaging, branding, preparing business proposals, using social media platforms for marketing products, financial management, and more. B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) meetings will also be arranged to directly connect these women with the market.
She added that a special pavilion, “Lakhpati Didi,” will be set up to inspire other women from rural SHGs. Moreover, Saras products will also be available on the e-Saras platform, and a special stall will be set up to raise awareness about this among customers.
