SARAS 2007 begins tomorrow to showcase rural arts, craft

New Delhi, Sep 10 (UNI) Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh will inaugurate tomorrow 'SARAS 2007', a fortnight long fair showcasing rural arts and craft.

This exhibition-cum-sales fair, under the brand name of SARAS, will display a wide range of products manufactured by artisans, craftsmen and beneficiaries of Self Help Groups from all over the country.

Organised jointly by the Ministry of Rural Development and Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), this fair will continue till September 24.

The fair aims at facilitating the SGSY beneficiaries, rural artisans, craftsmen, SHGs and NGOs to exhibit and sell their products and provide them the opportunity for additional income and exposure and interaction on a large scale. It creates a unique platform for developing linkages with the buyers and customers and also provides an opportunity to deal directly with the buyers avoiding the middlemen.

Around 190 Stalls and 500 Swarojgaries from 20 States from all over India will participats in the fair. Special attractions for this SARAS include Metal work products from Madhya Pradesh, Sambalpur, Saris from Orissa, Wood-works from Tamil Nadu, Bamboo Craft from Tripura, Madhubani paintings from Bihar, Terracotta from Chhattisgarh and Shawls&Carpets from Jammu and Kashmir.

Another major attraction of the mega event is the presentation of divergent cultural programmes of different States.

Organisation of SARAS fair at Dilli Haat and at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) by the Ministry of Rural Development is an annual feature. The Ministry also organises a number of regional SARAS fairs at State capitals and other major cities throughout the country. During the year 2006-07, 23 Regional SARAS fairs were organised besides IITF SARAS fair.

UNI