Artisans from across the country assemble for 'Shilpotsav 2010' at Delhi Haat

New Delhi, Oct. 16 (ANI): Shilpotsav 2010, the annual fair of artisans from different parts of the country commenced here on Saturday at Dilli Haat near INA Market.

The participating artistes and workers are the beneficiaries of various apex organizations of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment who will display and sell their products at 162 stalls hired for this purpose at Dilli Haat till October 28.

The products available for sale during Shilpotsav 2010 include silk sarees, durries, readymade garments, terracotta product, Jute products, Dress material, Kashmiri shawls/stoles, leather products, cane and bamboo products, hand embroidery, pearls, imitation jewellery, 'lakh' products, decorative candles, wood carvings, block printing, wooden toys, tie and dye, marble artifacts, handloom etc.

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D. Napoleon inaugurated the"SHILPOTSAV 2010" here today.

Shilpotsav, being organized for the fourth year in the capital, was started during the year 2007-08 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment by way of collaborating with all the Apex Corporations and National Institutes under the Ministry to provide marketing platform to artisans assisted by the Apex Corporations and the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy etc.

Beneficiaries sponsored by State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) of Apex Corporations and NGOs assisted by National Trust from 23 States/UTs would be participating in Shilpotsav-2010.

Another important feature of the Shilpotsav 2010 is that more than 40 per cent of the beneficiaries are women. It has also been ensured that more that 60 per cent of the participants are new and have not participated in the earlier fairs.

The space has been given free of cost to all the beneficiaries to display their products.

During the Shilpotsav six Cultural Evenings have also been organized on October 16, 17, 23, 24, 27 and 28 to be held at 6.30 P.M. (ANI)