Saras Fair hosts over 260 Self-help groups

New Delhi, Mar 7 (KNN) Self help groups (SHGs) from rural areas who participated in a 12 day long Saras (Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society) Mela were happy with the amount of money they earned from the fair.

Saras mela turned out to be a boon for the SHGs as it provided a platform for the SHGs to do lucrative business.

Members of the self-help group (SHGs), under the rural development agencies across India participated in the Saras fair.

Around 260 SHGs and artisans from 27 states of India exhibited their unique products for sale in the fair. 34 self-help groups from Punjab exhibited their culture through textiles and handloom and sold handloom products like phulkari, embroidery suits, quilts, shawls.

Two self-help groups (SHGs) from Jammu and Kashmir did a business of around Rs 4 lakh by selling dry fruits and self-help groups from North-East did a business of around Rs 2.50 lakh by selling artificial pots and flowers.

There was a huge demand of homemade jams, sauces and pickles among the locals.

Homemade jams, sauces and pickles were in great demand among the locals.

Self help Group named “Home Sai Ram” topped the list by doing a business of Rs 7 lakh during the fair and one more self help group who was selling the same product earned Rs 6.5 lakh additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Shaukat Ahemed Pare said.

He further added that Saras Fair offered a good platform to self-help groups to showcase their art and culture by putting up their stalls to market products for earning profit.

“The self-help groups (SHGs) earn good money by after participating in such fairs and get an opportunity to sell their products without any interference of middlemen,” the ADC said.

In order to provide livelihood opportunities, a loan of around 3 lakh was offered to self help groups of 10-20 members at subsidized interest rates as per the Punjab Government Schemes. (KNN/YV)