Patna, 04 January (ABN) The Bihar Saras Mela, which was held from December 12 to January 04 to promote rural industrialization, concluded on Sunday.
Bihar's Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar today honored the best-selling women entrepreneurs by presenting them with certificates and mementos during the Saras Mela. The women entrepreneurs who received the honor include Mrs. Prem Lata Devi, Ms. Rehana, Ms. Jyoti Kumari, Mrs. Krishna Devi, and Mrs. Varjesh Begum.
The Saras Mela, which was held for the past 24 days at Gandhi Maidan, was organized by the Rural Development Department through 'Jeevika'. Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar, who attended the concluding ceremony, visited the Saras Mela and appreciated the products made by rural artisans as well as the successful organization of the event.
On this occasion, Minister Shravan Kumar said that Bihar is the first state in the country where the Chief Minister's Women Employment Scheme was launched. He said that the Sustainable Employment Scheme was also started first in Bihar. He stated that a large number of women are being associated with these schemes and are moving forward step by step in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's campaign to make Bihar one of the top five states in the country.
Jeevika's Additional Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Abhilasha Kumari Sharma, said that the Saras Mela has now become a major national-level event, which has increased the prestige of Bihar. She said that rural women are showcasing their skills and industrialization here and have become economically and socially empowered.
Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department, Pankaj Kumar, said that Jeevika's discussion on the economic and social development of women is now happening all over the country. He said that rural women have made significant progress by joining self-help groups. He congratulated Jeevika on the successful organization of the Saras Mela and expressed happiness that Jeevika's work in Bihar is commendable.
Mahua Rai Choudhary, Project Coordinator of the Bihar Rural Jeevika Promotion Committee (Jeevika), said that the Saras Mela presented motivational stories of rural women entrepreneurs and artisans becoming successful industrialists. Jeevika women's success stories are now also becoming part of the curriculum for researchers. Students studying research and management are learning the lessons of success in business from Jeevika women by visiting the mela. She said that there is a continuous increase in the organization of the Saras Mela in Bihar and the attraction of visitors towards it.
Ms. Choudhary further stated that during the 24 days, products and cuisine worth more than Rs 28.52 crore were bought and sold, while approximately 18 lakh people visited the mela. In the Bihar Saras Mela, which started on December 12, about 209 Jeevika women associated with self-help groups from all 38 districts of Bihar participated as micro-entrepreneurs. Apart from Bihar, 25 states of the country participated. Through 50 stalls of various departments, institutions, and banks, information was provided about the various schemes being run by the government.