'Gramin Udyami Mela-2006' begins from Sep 21

Chandigarh, Sep 20: ''Gramin Udyami Mela'', an annual fair of exquisite handicrafts, handlooms and other rural products made by rural artisans, self help groups (SHGs) and micro entrepreneurs, supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), is being organised at Kalagram, North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Chandigarh from tomorrow till October 2.

Nearly 60 artisans, craftsmen and women mostly members of SHGs from Punjab, Haryana and neighbouring states of Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh will be participating in this annual event organised as part of NZCC's Navratra/Dandia festival.

NABARD, Punjab&Haryana Regional Office had started this event in the year 2003-04 as part of the bank's ongoing promotional initiatives in the Rural Non Farm Sector (RNFS), with a view to providing exposure and direct marketing opportunity to the rural artisans.

Since then the ''mela'' at Kalagram has been successful as a platform to the SHGs and budding rural entrepreneurs for confidence building, exposure, sharing of experience and knowledge of market and product design. It has also become a venue for buyer-seller contact. This exposure has further strengthened entrepreneurs to mould their livelihood and employment opportunities.

The Udyami Mela organised in the previous years were of great success as these evoked overwhelming response from the general public. It is expected that the people of the tri-city viz.

Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali will welcome the event this year also with the same zeal and fervour.

UNI