The Arun Shilp Mela was inaugurated on Thursday (February 2) by Chief Secretary Dharmendra in the presence of NABARD GM Partho Saha and others.
Chief Secretary Dharmendra was impressed by the products - ranging from exquisite handicraft items to traditional handloom textiles, processed farm produce such as pickles, jam, honey, and mustard oil, beads and ornaments, and so on - displayed for sale in the 15 stalls set up by entrepreneurs from the state's remotest corners.
"Rural marts or grameen dukaans are essentially marketing outlets of SHGs, SHG federations, or FPOs, which are provided financial assistance by NABARD as part of their endeavour to promote end-to-end solutions for micro-enterprises," according to a NABARD release.
"The event will also create an interface among the participants, promoting exchange of ideas and cross-selling of products," Saha said, adding that the state has sanctioned 16 rural marts and 13 rural haats in the last two years.
The mela, which will showcase the diversity of the state's crafts and handloom, will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily for the next four days.
As a Development Bank, NABARD is responsible for providing and regulating credit and other facilities for the promotion and development of agriculture, small scale industries, cottage and village industries, handicrafts and other rural crafts, and other allied economic activities in rural areas.
