SARAS Aajeevika Mela is testimony of Nari-Shakti : Minister

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on October 12, 2019, said that SARAS Aajeevika Mela is a testimony of Nari-Shakti, as lakhs of poor women through  rural women Self Help Groups (SHGs) are transforming their lives and transforming rural India.

She was speaking here after formally inaugurating the Mela at India Gate Lawns. The Mela commenced on October 10, 2019, and continue till  October 23, 2019. She said that the Mela is a true example of women empowerment as over 200 stalls have been set-up by nearly 500 rural SHG craftswomen from 29 States and UTs. They will showcase varied range of products like handicrafts, handlooms, natural food products, and a food court with regional cuisines.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Rural Development, Amarjeet Sinha said that  in the last four and half years the number of rural women joining self help groups have jumped from2.5 crore to nearly 6.3 crore to better their lives and that of the society. He informed that till date about Rs 88,000 crore of loans were availed by SHGs and their NPA is mere 2 percent, which should be a matter of pride for all Indians. Sinha said, at SARAS Mela, each stall, each product and each of the rural SHG women has a story to share, a story of victory over heavy odds, according to a PIB release.

SARAS Aajeevika Mela is an initiative by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, with an objective to bring the rural women Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed with support of DAY-NRLM, under one platform to showcase their skills, sell their products, and help them build linkages with bulk buyers.